Mercer is schooled by Horns track team

trevor.kenney — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 21:17:03 +0000

The CBC's Rick Mercer might not be the most imposing figure to take his turn in the throwing circle, but there is no denying the size of his heart.

Rick Mercer, centre, and the U of L Pronghorns throwing team.

The popular CBC television personality spent a day at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge on Monday, Mar. 10 as he learned the finer points of the art of throwing from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns throwing team.

Mercer was learning from some of the country's best athletes, including ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge alumnus and Olympian Jim Steacy (BASc '09), his sister and fellow Olympian Heather Steacy, as well as Canada West shot put and weight throw champion Peter Millman and two-time CIS women's weight throw champion Kayla Gallagher. The group is busy preparing for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland at the end of July.

Led by head coach Larry Steinke, the Horns have created a centre of excellence here at the U of L, so it was only fitting that Mercer came to Lethbridge to learn from the best. He entered the ring and tried his hand at each of the shot put, weight throw, hammer throw, discus and javelin disciplines.

"I did everything, I always try to do everything and I tried my hardest," says Mercer. "I'm not very good at any of those things, I learned that, but they are incredible."

Head coach Steinke says that Mercer has a little work to do before he's ready to enter competition and represent Canada.

"He has one of those techniques that will take a number of years to get better and well enough to compete in the 2016 Olympics, but there's a definite possibility there," says Steinke.

Look for the full Rick Mercer Report to air Tuesday, Mar. 25.

Mercer headlines Calgary Alumni & Friends Dinner

trevor.kenney — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 21:46:07 +0000

Building off the rousing success of last year's inaugural event, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is excited to announce Rick Mercer as the featured speaker for the second annual Calgary Alumni & Friends Dinner, to be held Sunday, Apr. 3 at the Calgary Westin.

Mike Babcock, head coach of the Detroit Red Wings and Canada's Olympic men's hockey team, was featured last year as U of L alumni filled the building and enjoyed a fantastic evening of food and fellowship. Mercer, known as Canada's "unofficial opposition" is the nation's most popular comic, a political satirist who knows exactly what matters to regular Canadians and what makes them laugh.

Comic Rick Mercer is the headliner for the second annual Calgary & Friends Alumni Dinner on Apr. 3.

Tickets for the dinner went on sale Feb. 7, but alumni have an opportunity to win a pair of tickets to the event, simply by getting in touch with the U of L's Alumni Services office. There are more than 32,000 ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge alumni living and working in communities across southern Alberta and beyond. We want to hear from you.

Alums are encouraged to e-mail Alumni Services with an update on what they've been up to since graduating from the U of L. Tell us your stories and not only will you be entered in a draw for two tickets to the Alumni dinner (valued at $250, accommodations and travel are not included), your story may be featured on the ThisIsMyU website.

The entry deadline for this contest is Mar. 11, 2011. If you'd like to purchase tickets, click on this link.

It promises to be an amazing evening with wonderful food, the comedy of Mercer and an opportunity to reconnect with your fellow ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge alums.

Mercer's top-rated, award-winning CBC show, The Rick Mercer Report, features his trademark rants, hilarious (and informative) fake newscasts, commercial parodies and comic encounters with famous Canadians, talking about Canada. More than any other comedian (or journalist for that matter), he talks to Canadian newsmakers with a refreshing candor, and is uniquely able to spin topical hilarity from the people and the things deeply embedded in the national consciousness.

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Mercer is schooled by Horns track team

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