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Jeff Mezydlo

A Chicago native, Jeff Mezydlo has professionally written about sports, entertainment and pop culture for parts of four decades. He was an integral member of award-winning sports sections at The Times of Northwest Indiana (Munster, Ind.) and Champaign (Ill.) News-Gazette, where he covered the NFL, PGA, LPGA, NCAA basketball, football and golf, Olympics and high school athletics. Jeff most recently spent 12 years in the editorial department at STATSPerform, where he also oversaw coverage of the English Premier League. A graduate of Northern Illinois University, Jeff's work has also appeared on such sites at Yahoo!, ESPN, Fox Sports, Sports Illustrated and NBA.com. However, if Jeff could do it again, he'd attend Degrassi Junior High, Ampipe High School and Grand Lakes University

EXPERTISE:

NCAA football, NCAA basketball, PGA/LPGA, international soccer, sports history, rock music, film history

25 fake restaurants where we to have a real meal

Television and film have given us many memorable and beloved restaurants. They're so good that we would not mind stopping by for a visit — breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Here is our look at some of the more notable fictional restaurants.

The top transfers for the 2020-21 college hoops season

Every big-time college basketball program could use some improvement. If not from a strong recruiting class, then perhaps through transfer players -- of the graduate variety or otherwise.

Freshmen to keep an eye on during the 2020-21 college hoops season

Whether talking about one-and-done superstars or those who last the duration, there are plenty of talented freshmen to keep an eye during what should be a unique 2020-21 college basketball season.

The college hoops conference favorites for 2020-21

We're not sure what the 2020-21 college basketball season will look like -- thanks to COVID-19. Some schools already find themselves in a bind and the Ivy League has cancelled winter sports all together.  Still, the show will go on and there are conference championships to be won.

The 20 best instrumental music tracks of all time

Great music does not have to be dependent on memorable lyrics. Simply listening to the composition and creativity of an instrumental track can be just as rewarding.

The best possible fictional basketball team

It's not easy putting together a team of fictional basketball players. There have been many memorable made-up hoop stars on TV or the big screen. Our team includes 15 players, one head coach, and three assistant coaches.

The 25 greatest fictional bands from film and TV

Great bands don't have to be real. What does that mean? There are plenty of great bands that exist only on the screen. Sure, some fictional bands have managed to play some real-life gigs, but you get the point.

The top storylines heading into the 2020 Masters

The 2020 Masters, which tees off in this week, will look and feel like no other in the history of this beloved and grand event. That said, the intrigue and interest should not diminish from those watching at home.

Fictional parties we wished we could have attended

Everybody likes a party. In movies or on television, there have been many memorable parties that viewers wish they could have attended. Here are 25 of the best.

Albums that defined Los Angeles in the '80s

Los Angeles is the entertainment capital of the world. That's certainly true when it comes to making music. But the whole beachy, diverse and eclectic vibe of the city and its surroundings has also influenced and inspired many a musician to write and sing about it all.

Way-too-early 2020 bowl predictions

It might be early, but there's never a wrong time to start thinking about college football bowl matchups. Yes, this season's slate will look slightly different due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The 30 most memorable TV miniseries

Miniseries are a TV and streaming services staple. Listed in chronological order are 25 of the best.

Jock jams: The 25 best songs about sports

These are songs about actual games, athletes, or leagues. Listed in chronological order are 25 of the better songs about sports.

The 25 greatest college films of all time

Movies based around the college theme — sports or academics, comedies or dramas — have always been popular. Here is our ranking of the 25 best college movies of all time.

The biggest X-factors for the college football top 25

The best college football teams have that one athlete or aspect of the squad that is key to a program's overall success. Maybe it's not obvious to all fans, but it's there, and being counted on to continue in a positive way, especially for ranked teams.

College football midseason awards

While not every FBS conference has started its season, it's still not too early to highlight some of the great performances to this point on the 2020 campaign.

The biggest flaw of every top 25 college football team

None of these 25 teams are perfect. Their issues or flaws range from the physical to mental, some controllable and some not.