Sam Mac
Sam Mac has paid a heartfelt — and very funny — farewell to Mark Beretta as the longtime Sunrise sports presenter wrapped up his final morning on the show.
In a touching tribute published 7 News, Sam reflected on what it’s been like travelling the country as Sunrise’s weatherman and seeing first-hand just how much Aussies adore Beretts.
After 22 years reading sport for Australia’s #1 breakfast show, Mark Beretta is officially hanging up the mic — and Sam wanted to send him off the only way a sports icon should be honoured: with his very own sports report.
“The outpouring of gratitude for Beretts has been truly palpable,” Sam wrote, adding that for many Sunrise viewers it feels like they’re “saying goodbye to a beloved family member. Even if some of them still think his name is ‘Brett’ (it’s not Kath and Kim guys).”
“Sport and Sunrise all-rounder Mark Beretta is hanging up the boots after an illustrious 22 years at number one in the rankings,” he wrote, imagining Beretts’ trademark delivery booming over the usual sports intro music.
Nicknamed “The Silver Fox” (a title Sam joked Beretts gave himself), the Sunrise star leaves behind some pretty unbeatable stats: 22 years on Sunrise, 13 Olympic Games, and an incredible $158 million raised for cancer research through Tour de Cure.
But it was the unofficial stats that had fans laughing.
Sam revealed Beretts has managed to mention his former life as a water skiing champion 1,458 times without skipping a beat — “seamlessly weaved into conversation,” of course. Then came the legendary profiterole incident (a staggering 11 eaten in a single ad break) and the eyebrow-raising 34 consecutive days in lycra, which Sam suggested may have been less about the Tour de Cure and more about Beretts’ personal fashion choices.
And the final, most miraculous stat of all: the amount of times Beretts delivered an update about his beloved Geelong Cats without a hint of bias.
“Zero,” Sam joked.
As Sunrise viewers flooded social media with memories and messages of love, Sam wrapped his tribute with one last sporting flourish — Beretts raising his bat to the pavilion as the crowd cheers.
“Go well sir, we’ll miss you!”
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