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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

Notable musical artists who have enjoyed multi-genre success

These truly special artists have drawn fans from different audiences than those in their usual genre, demonstrating an ability to step outside their comfort zone and successfully branch out in other directions.

25 defensive players to watch during the 2023 college football season

A look at 25 of the top defensive players to keep an eye on once the 2023 college season kicks off.

Teams who can surprise during the 2023 college football season

They might not be national championship contenders, though some might have a shot. But general improvement from one season to another is obviously important. Here are 20 teams who can make important strides in 2023. 

Heisman Trophy odds for the 2023 college football season

It's never too early to talk about Heisman Trophy favorites — even before the season starts. Here's a list of player odds for the 2023 Heisman Trophy.

Best of the best: The 25 best greatest hits albums

It seems impossible to rank the best greatest hits collections of all time, but we gave it a go. Enjoy.

Which 25 rock albums have sold the most copies all-time?

In terms of what constitutes a "rock" album, we went with consensus and inclusion of sub-genres of the "rock" category, such as hard rock/heavy metal, pop rock, soft rock, and folk rock.

The most underappreciated bands of all time

Whether overshadowed by their contemporaries or never able to find sustained commercial or mainstream success, there are plenty of bands who weren't fully appreciated for their work or influence on those who followed.

The 20 most iconic bands to hail from Canada

When it comes to the music — and not just its fantastic national anthem — that's come out of the country, there's plenty to celebrate.

25 offensive players to watch during the 2023 college football season

As the 2023 college football season approaches, here is our list of 25 offensive players to keep an eye on this season. Listed in alphabetical order, broken down by position.

25 quarterbacks to watch during the 2023 college football season

Trying to list the 25 best quarterbacks entering the 2023 college football season can be a daunting task. However, we gave it a shot. 

20 underrated bands from the 1970s that deserve more love

During the 70s, there were certainly special musical moments that either flew under the radar, were overshadowed, or weren't appreciated.

20 actors who became completely unrecognizable in roles

Diving head-first into a role is obviously nothing new for any actor. That includes transforming one's physical appearance to truly embrace a character.

You might not know these actors names, but you definitely know their faces

You likely recognize their faces, and the movies they've been in. However, the names continue to escape the mind — and that's OK. Here are some actors and actresses that we've seen in countless movies and television shows, but can't think of their names for the life of us.

Notable musicians who found success with multiple bands

Having success with one band is a dream for just about any serious musician. Doing so with two or more is not just good fortune, but proof that he or she is doing something right.

Blown cover: The 25 most ill-conceived cover songs

Taking on a cover of a classic song is never easy. More times than not, the result is less than desirable to the ears. Here is our ranking of 25 notable cover songs that did not deliver.

What songs have the greatest and most memorable opening lines?

Many aspects define a great song, including a special opening phrase or line. Some are downright legendary. Here are 25 of the greatest opening lyrics of all time.

The biggest one-hit wonders from the '70s

One hit single is one more than most bands ever achieve. That said, more often than not throughout music history, we tend to remember them as one-hit wonders.

An early look at the top 25 college football teams for 2023

It's spring, but it's never too early to start thinking about who the best teams of the 2023 college football season will be. Here's our early take at the top 25 teams entering this coming season.

Notable non-traditional sports seen on ESPN channels

The hilarious 2004 film Dodgeball : A True Underdog Story  brought to light some out-of-the-box sports or competitions that are highly entertaining. Since then, the ESPN family of channels and platforms have been the place to go when it comes to real life, non-traditional sports watching.

Who are the best MLB switch-hitters of all time?

Successfully hitting the baseball at the major league level is quite an accomplishment. Doing it extremely well from both sides of the plate is even more special.

The 25 greatest soccer players to hail from the United States

The United States has not been a soccer power on the world stage, obviously, but the nation has produced some exceptional individual performers — many who have enjoyed success on the international stage.  Here is our list of 25 American-born soccer players who have stood out over the decades.

The 25 best US Women's National Team players of all time

The United States has produced some of the best female soccer players in the world. Trying to narrow it down to the 25 best is not easy, but we tried it. Our list is listed in alphabetical order.

The 21st century's most memorable metal albums, so far

Sure, the 80s and 90s were the true salad days for heavy metal music of all subgenres. But the dawn of the 21st century has also brought some memorable metal moments as well.

Final curtain: 25 legendary career-closing albums

Often a band or musical artist doesn't know when it's time to call it a career — at least in terms of putting out studio albums, complete with original material. Sometimes they've truly reached the end of the line, while unforeseen circumstances, such as tragedy, leaves no point to moving forward.

The greatest MLB managers who never won a World Series 

Winning a World Series in the capacity of manager is a significant accomplishment, considering the pressure to succeed. However, there have been many great managers never fortunate enough to win it all, but who are still worthy of consistent praise.