Out with Air Jordan and in with Air Willy?

If you haven’t heard yet, NIU soccer coach Willy Roy won the Chicago Bulls Celebrity Slam Dunk Contest last Friday prior to the Bulls-San Antonio game. Yeah, that’s right, Willy Roy—the slightly rotund ex-Chicago Sting coach.

Roy ousted such notable opponents as former Chicago Bears Otis Wilson and Doug Buffone, plus WLS-TV weatherman Andy Avalos, NIU grad and WMAQ-Radio sportscaster Steve Olken and several other Chicago area celebrities.

“Those other guys were all in their 30s,” Roy said with a smile. “I represented the slightly overweight and middle-age group. It’s good for the over-45 group in this country.”

The fourth-year NIU coach tallied a 14 (out of a possible 15) on his second and final dunk of the competition, while obvious favorite Wilson fanned on his attempt. Wilson decided to bypass the eight-foot rim and go for the crowd-pleaser on the regulation iron. Instead of dazzling Chicago Stadium’s packed house, Wilson missed the opportunity.

“I told him to go for it,” Roy snickered. “I told him that the crowd would go nuts if he made it, so he did and ….”

And oops. Wilson’s mishap enabled Roy to steal the brass nerf hoop that signifies the 1991 Celebrity Slam Dunk Champion.

Perhaps Roy’s celebrity status rubs off on his recruiting ability. Roy attracted Illinois’ top two players. No. 1 Jay Conrad (Naperville North) and No. 2 Derek Niempomnik (Maine South) will suit up for NIU in the fall. Also coming to DeKalb is Andy Lane, from Griffith, Ind.

“All three have played on the United States Olympic Development Youth Program,” Roy said. “They all are not only really good players, but excellent students also. They really make it a nice recruiting year for our program.”

Saturday at Huskie Soccer Field, Roy’s club battles with the Chicago Eagles amateur club team in a spring exhibition contest. Match time is set for 1 p.m.

The Chicago Eagles won both the 1989 U.S. Amateur Cup and 1990 U.S. Open Cups. Their roster consists of former first and second division players from Poland.

“They have a lot of outstanding and experienced players,” Roy said. “If people really want to see European soccer, the Eagles are as good of a team as it gets. We’re going to have more than our hands full.”

Last Saturday, NIU knocked off the National Lewis University team at Huskie Soccer Field. The Huskies relied on two goals from Willy Roy Jr. and a John Kelly tally to overcome the squad, 3-1.