He sees slam dunks in his dreams, he idolizes Superman, he collects comic books and, someday, he hopes to play tamborine for the Rolling Stones.

Mike Korcek is no ordinary kid, he’s just an “off-the-wall” (as he refers to himself) 40-year-old NIU sports information director, who is a kid at heart.

His youthful essence is reflected in the gleam of his eye and the excitement of his voice when he vividly describes how basketball star Julius “Dr. J.” Erving executes one of his patented finger rolls.

Korcek has been known to impersonate his idols. Although he doesn’t wear a red cape and jump off of buildings, he does throw on his high-tops and basketball attire almost everyday for noonball. Noonball, a daily game among NIU faculty and coaches at Chick Evans Field House, is when Korcek gets the chance to strut his stuff.

“Mike tries to emulate Dr. J.,” said Bill Finucane, an NIU staff member and noonball buddy of Korcek’s. “Sometimes when he goes to make his move, I just stop defending him and start laughing. I’m not laughing at him in a harmful way, but I’ve seen it so much it’s like a ‘here we go again’ type of thing.

“He gets really intense—you can see it in his eyes. It bothers him when young guys blow by him, because he doesn’t like to get shown up.”

As much as Korcek enjoys his pastimes and hobbies, the hours he pumps into his job make playtime a rarity. His job as sports information director goes far beyond a typical nine-to-five day.

He usually works from 9 a.m. to anywhere from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., seven days a week, and he hasn’t had a vacation in four years. Despite the long hours, Korcek remains dedicated to his job for one solid reason.

“He is a Huskie,” said NIU’s Associate SID Steve Nemeth. “This is his school. If he can’t remember something, he’ll spend literally hours looking things up and going through files, just to get one detail correct.”

Korcek graduated from NIU in 1970 with a B.S. degree in journalism. It was at the Northern Star that Korcek originated his bond to Huskie sports.

A good friend and former co-worker from their Northern Star days, Chicago Tribune writer Ray Gibson recalled the time and energy Korcek put into the Star when Korcek was sports editor and Gibson was editor.

“Mike spent enormous hours at the Star,” Gibson said. “He slept on couches and it was rare that he saw his dormroom. We used to play trashcan basketball at three in the morning.

“He’s a wild-man when it comes to Huskie sports. When he was in the army (stationed three years in Germany after graduation from NIU), he still kept in touch with NIU football and basketball.”

After his time in the army, Korcek returned to NIU in 1973 as assistant SID to former SID Bud Nangle. He replaced Nangle in October 1985.

Korcek, who can rattle off statistics from the score of the 1983 California Bowl to the number of slam dunks in the 1986 NBA Championships, admits he has trouble remembering a few things.

“I can tell you any trivial b.s., like who played where when and with how many points,” Korcek said, “but I can never remember my mom’s birthday. I know it’s March something.”

NIU Assistant SID Janelle Martin said at times she is grateful for Korcek’s staggering memory, and she commented on his overall originality.

“Mike is unique because he has an interesting blend of living in the past and yet staying current with what’s going on in the world,” Martin said.

“(His knowledge) is helpful because it saves you going through numerous files,” she said. “He’s been here so long, he’s lived through most of it.”

Although Korcek may jokingly refer to Martin as “Kid” and she in turn calls him “Dad,” this is as close as Korcek comes to an immediate family.

“I’m married to my job and my best friend is my couch,” Korcek said. “Northern is kind of like my adopted family. It’s a kick to see them (the athletes) grow up.”

“It would be hard to have a relationship with someone with the hours I work. I don’t know if anyone could put up with me anyway. Although, sometimes I wonder if I had gotten married and had kids if there would be little Korceks running around with Coke-bottle glasses on.”

Korcek said he does not have any regrets professionally, just a few personal ones.

“Sometimes you feel sorry for yourself because it’s two in the morning and everone else is having a good time while you’re still working,” Korcek said. “Sometimes you just want to say it’s not worth it.

“But I’ve always had a soft spot for the Huskies. With the long hours and tough things (of the job), I don’t think I’d be able to take it at another school. I feel I owe Northern a lot.”

Korcek’s devotion to NIU can be witnessed in the confines of his office, which is covered with mock wallpaper made of sportspage clippings, Superman memorabilia and slam-dunk action shots. One of the posters given to him from the NIU men’s basketball team depicts a player dunking and is addressed to “the only man who values the slam dunk more than breath.”

Gibson said he believes one reason Korcek goes bonkers over the slam dunk is because of the years it was banned during the 70’s. Gibson said the other reason is Korcek’s lack of upward mobility.

“The reason he’s so crazed about it is because he can’t do it,” Gibson said. “He’s 6-foot-2 and he can’t get off his feet.”

But he could if he were Superman.