Julian McElroy is a former basketball player for NIU. After his sophomore season, he was dismissed from the team following a disagreement with the coach. He now plays basketball at the Student Recreation Center and is the coach of the intramural basketball team, Chuch. He is not allowed to participate in this semester’s games because of a disagreement with a Rec worker.

Northern Star: First off, I have noticed you like to talk. Do you ever stop?

Julian McElroy: Oh yeah. I mean, I am a constant chatterbox all the time, but I do stop talking sometimes. I stop talking when I am very, very, very serious.

NS: You also are known for trash talking. What’s your best or favorite trash on the court?

JM: [laughs] I don’t really have a special line or anything like that. I usually say what comes to me. Oh, but my favorite thing to do is walk up the court after I steal the ball and give the ball to the offense. It’s kind of like me saying, ‘Better luck next time.’

NS: Do you think your team has a chance at winning the intramural basketball championship?

JM: Oh, hell yeah. I mean, our last game was supposed to be tough, and we blew them out. There are some good teams, but I think we got this.

NS: You used to play for NIU basketball coach Rob Judson. What’s your opinion on him?

JM: He’s an Xs-and-Os coach. I mean, when things are going good, he looks like a genius, but when things start going bad, there are a lot of insults in the air. Though I tell you one thing, he knows his stuff. Maybe it’s not showing this year, but next year he will turn it around.

NS: Now, you played college basketball, but which would you rather watch: college or the NBA?

JM: Oh, definitely college. In college, there are no guarantees. I mean, look at me. Last year I was playing [on the NIU team]. This year, I’m not.

NS: Speaking of the NBA., who is the best player you have ever watched?

JM: Without a doubt, Michael Jordan. I mean it’s one thing to go out every night and get buckets, but it’s another thing to go out and control every aspect of the game. Jordan was the only person who could do that.

NS: So what did you think of the Super Bowl?

JM: Man, at first, the game sucked. The entire first half was all defense. I mean, I’m a fan. I wanted to see some points. Though the second half was better, I actually wanted the [Carolina] Panthers to pull it out. Oh well.

NS: Now you say you’re a fan. Do you watch any other sports than basketball?

JM: Oh yeah. Obviously, I’m a football guy. I can get into baseball here and there, but not all the time. Oh, and hockey fights. Not the games. I don’t watch the games. I just watch the fights.

NS: OK, now one hard question: Who would you rather date: Beyonce Knowles or Halle Berry?

JM: [Long pause] Aw, man. I don’t know. [Pause again] OK, Beyonce has the body and is young, but Halle Berry is a vet, and I like that about her. All right. I’m going to go with Halle Berry for one reason.

NS: What’s that?

JM: I know I couldn’t follow [rapper] Jay-Z’s lips. That’s just way too tough to follow.