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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

Top storylines for college football's home stretch

As we dive into the second half of the college football season, we've seen our share of surprise teams (Notre Dame and Florida to name a couple) and disappointments (Auburn, UCLA and Nebraska).

Sports & Politics Intersect: WWE's Crown Jewel loses its sparkle

World Wrestling Entertainment’s 10-year deal with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is getting worse all the time.

College football Week 7 preview

Though it's a somewhat light week in terms of volume of games featuring teams in the Associated Press Top 25, there are several key matchups worth following.  The SEC, Pac-12 and Big 10 all feature games involving two ranked teams.

Top side projects and bands born from other bands

When one door closes, another opens. Is that how the saying goes? For musicians, that's often the case. One band ends, another starts. Some by choice, other times by chance.

Sports & Politics Intersect: Nevada police reopen sexual assault case against Ronaldo

“Don't take another woman's life as you did mine!!" - Kathryn Mayorga, in a letter read to Cristiano Ronaldo as part of a 2010 mediation settlement. 

College football Week 6 preview

As we enter Week 6, a couple of new teams appear in the Top 25, while some familiar ones are back in. All eyes should be on the Cotton Bowl, where another installment of the Red River Showdown takes place.

Chris Cornell: 20 of his best songs from a legendary rock career

It's been well over a year since the music world lost one of its true, great singer/songwriters in Chris Cornell. The Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog and Audioslave frontman had one of the most recognizable voices on the planet, but one that was silenced when he was found dead in a Detroit hotel room on May 17, 2017, from an apparent suicide.

Ryder Cup storylines after day two

Two days down with one to go at the 42nd Ryder Cup. The Americans are certainly up against it, trailing 10-6 heading into Sunday's single matches. A huge task awaits captain Jim Furyk's group as it tries to pull off a minor miracle and prevent a sixth straight loss on European soil.

Ryder Cup storylines after day one

The first day of the 2018 Ryder Cup is in the books, and the U.S. has some work to do. It was a tale of two rounds at France's Le Golf National on Friday.

Most memorable moments in Ryder Cup history

For an event that began in 1927, the lasting images and memories created with the Ryder Cup are some of the greatest in all of golf. The unique team event often allows golfers to show their true selves - good or bad.

College football Week 5 preview

This has the makings of a fun weekend in college football. Five games on the docket feature matchups between ranked teams, including two in the top 10.

The 'SEC single-season touchdown passes' quiz

How many of the passing touchdown leaders from the SEC since 1993 can you name in five minutes?

Ranking the last 15 Ryder Cups

Emotional performances, improbable comebacks and bitter rivalries. The Ryder Cup has pretty much seen it all over the years, and especially during the last 15 installments of the event.

10 Ryder Cup matches we'd like to see

There are several reasons to love the Ryder Cup. The passion. The emotion. The fashionable uniforms. Ultimately, however, it winds up being about the pairings and matchups.

Ranking the 2018 Ryder Cup participants

Two years have passed since the United States ended its Ryder Cup drought by beating Europe, at Hazeltine, for its first victory since 2008. Golf's grandest team event heads to France this week , with the Europeans thinking payback while trying to extend the Americans' winless slide across the pond to six consecutive events.

The 'Big 12 leaders in touchdown passes' quiz

How many of the passing touchdown leaders from the Big 12 since 1998 can you name in five minutes?

College football Week 4 preview

Week 3 of the college football season brought with it a couple of high-profile upsets, by BYU and LSU. Will Week 4 have the same in store? A pair of games featuring two ranked teams are on the docket, including one involving two of the most successful coaches in the sport.

The 'Most career RBI for every MLB team' quiz

How many of the career leaders in runs batted in for every MLB franchise can you name in five minutes?

College football Week 3 preview

With the college football season in full swing, Mother Nature is doing her best to interrupt the fun. Three games — No. 18 UCF at North Carolina, East Carolina taking on No.

The top 20 covers of Johnny Cash songs

There are many who believe covering songs by the legendary Johnny Cash is wrong — even downright sacrilegious. But that has not stopped several artists

Sports & Politics Intersect: Nike just does it

"Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything. #JustDoIt" - Colin Kaepernick Nike has thrown even more fuel onto the ongoing national

College football Week 2 preview

Week 2 of the college football season features many potentially one-sided matchups within the Top 25, but there is a handful of intriguing contests. Two of the nation's top coaches continue their rivalry but in a new setting while two games involving four Top 25 teams highlight action in the SEC and Pac-12.