In2Underwear

Funnyman WILL FERRELL

Funnyman WILL FERRELL thrilled former WILL & GRACE star MEGAN MULLALLY when she launched her talk show career in America yesterday (18SEP06) - by showing up in just his underwear.
The OLD SCHOOL star was Mullally's first guest on her new show and he decided to make quite an entrance in a pair of blue Y-fronts and knee-length sports socks.
After presenting Mullally with a bouquet of flowers and handing a rose to the host's stunned mother, who was sitting in the audience, Ferrell told the actress, "There's an old saying: 'When you're nervous you should imagine people in their underwear.' I just wanted to cut to the chase." Ferrell later donned a tuxedo to sing a quirky version of WIND BENEATH MY WINGS to welcome his pal to daytime television.
JENNY McCARTHY, Mullally's second guest on her first show, gave the ex-Will & Grace star three live sheep as a gift, explaining, "It's an old wives tale that if you meet sheep it's good luck on your journey. I didn't know that but as soon as I heard that I said, 'Give me three sheep.'



Naperville college suspends ball players

By James Kimberly
Tribune staff reporter
Published September 22, 2006, 1:41 PM CDT

North Central College in Naperville placed its baseball team on probation and temporarily suspended 17 players and two coaches for a 2005 freshman initiation that officials found disturbing but believe did not rise to the level of hazing.

Laurie Hamen, vice president for enrollment management, athletics and student affairs at the private, liberal arts college, said the Feb. 19, 2005, party that kicked off the baseball season violated a number of school policies. But she said it did not violate an Illinois law that prohibits hazing.

Hamen said the party included freshmen playing baseball in their underwear, dressing in women's lingerie and drinking alcohol — violations of school policies that prohibit underage drinking and conduct unbecoming to the college.

But after interviewing more than 40 participants, officials decided the party was not hazing because participation was voluntary and no one was physically harmed, Hamen said.

Investigators found that some students left the party early and others opted to drink soft drinks instead of alcohol, she said.

"Generally, hazing doesn't involve choice," Hamen said.

The school announced sanctions against the baseball team on Thursday. Seventeen returning players as well as head coach Brian Michalak and a graduate assistant coach were suspended for the first three games of the season, which will be played March 3 and 4 at Webster University in St. Louis, Mo.

Hamen said the coaches were disciplined because the party happened on their watch. "We have an expectation that you have some kind of influence or control over (your team," Hamen said. "We would like to send a strong message that this does not happen again."

In addition to the player sanctions, eight other North Central students will be sanctioned individually for violating school policies. Private disciplinary hearings for the students will begin next week and potential punishments could range from an official warning to expulsion.

"I suspect no one will receive the extremes," Hamen said.

She said the school became aware of the party about three weeks ago after a college hazing watchdog group posted photographs of it on its Web site. The school began an investigation as soon as it learned about the party, Hamen said.

This is the first time North Central has sanctioned an athletic team, Hamen said. The Cardinals play in the NCAA Division III.