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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

Our 18 favorite major tournament venues

There's plenty of history on this list but also a modern track that pays homage to old-time golf. Here's a look at our 18 favorite courses that have hosted and continue to host golf's major tournaments.

The 25 best game shows of all time

No matter how goofy the premise or wacky the contestants, game shows remain a TV staple and something we can count on as viewers. As we get set for this weekend's annual Daytime Emmy Awards, here's a ranking of the top 25 game shows of all time.

The best recurring Seinfeld characters

Here's a ranking of the top recurring characters in the history of one of TV's greatest sitcoms.

Famous musicians who were fired from their bands

In honor of Osbourne's sacking from one of the most popular band's of all time, here's a look at 25 of the most notable musicians who have been fired (in alphabetical order) from famous groups.  

The essential playlist of The Cure

Led by the somewhat misunderstood but universally respected singer and co-founder Robert Smith, who turns 60 April 20, The Cure have provided the soundtrack to many lives from the late 1970s to today. 

The 25 dopest songs about drugs

Whether for autobiographical, glorification or cautionary purposes, music and drugs have long gone together.

25 of the most famous B-sides

Often the B-side cut became more popular than the A-side selection. So in honor of this month's Record Store Day, here are some of the best B-sides spanning the history of popular and mainstream music. 

The most famous moments from The Masters

From great shots, fantastic duels and devastating collapses, here's a look at 25 of the most memorable moments in Masters history.

The top storylines heading into the 2019 Masters

As always, there is plenty to talk about heading into another Masters at famed Augusta National. From the favorites to dark horses to the old guard and young studs, the intrigue never stops in the quest for the green jacket.

10 bold Masters predictions

It's Masters week. For most golf fans, it is the most exciting time of the season. And while there are plenty of predictions out there as to who will don the green jacket in 2019, let's go a little deeper — and maybe even have some fun.

Actors/actresses who made the best movie jocks

There are some actors and actresses who look totally comfortable playing specific roles. When it comes to taking on the part of an athlete, coach or front office exec, that's certainly the case in the world of sports-related films.

The best TV shows based in Chicago

Chicago has also been the setting for many successful television sitcoms and dramas, spanning the traditional networks and cable. Here's a look at 25 of the biggest TV hits to call Chicago its fictional home.

Phil Mickelson through the years

Before Mickelson aims to add to his legacy at the famed Georgia course, let's take a look at how "Lefty" got to this point — as one of the greatest golfers of all time.

Surprising facts about the Academy of Country Music Awards nominees

Country music fans want to know everything about their favorite artists - and probably do. However, what about the causal country fan or those new to the genre looking for a crash course on country music biggest and brightest stars?

Predicting winners of the 54th Academy of Country Music Awards

The 54th Academy of Country Music Awards will be held April 7, in Las Vegas. Country legend Reba McEntire is hosting, and plenty of the genre's biggest stars will perform, including Jason Aldean, Florida Georgia Line, Miranda Lambert and McEntire herself.

Ranking the 54th Academy of Country Music Awards nominees by Twitter followers

Country music fans are arguably the most dedicated and devoted in all of the industry. It tends to be personal with the artists, perhaps because the music is more relateable compared to other genres.

The best LPGA golfers of all time

Women's golf has blossomed into an international game, especially in the Asian markets where it has become an obsession for some. While its future looks bright, it's fun to look back and honor the past.

Music's most well known power couples

Couples in bands don't always work out, but most of the time they make for great drama and even better rock music....