Channel 2's Scott Garceau sounded glad to be getting out of the nightly sports anchoring biz when we spoke Friday night. Garceau, 56, who has been on the air in Baltimore since September 1980, will be shifting to select assignments for WMAR -- college lacrosse, the Turkey Bowl, Orioles Opening Day, Ravens coverage -- after his last spin at the anchor desk Thursday.

Beyond his on-air work -- and he has always seemed like a solid pro to me -- Garceau apparently has been a nice guy as he has gone about his business. I don't ever remember hearing a cross word about him from any of the local media types I've spoken to over the years. He said he plans to keep living in the Baltimore area.

Here's some of what else he had to say Friday night:

*"It's a good thing. My original plan was probably to do this in a year or two, but they offered me a chance to stay and do the events I like to do." (Garceau's contract expired earlier this month.)

*"I'm not retiring, but I'm really happy to be out of the grind. ... I want to be able to pick and choose what I can do."

*(On finding another regular on-air job) "I haven't got out knocking on doors."

*(On WMAR's plans, whether Rob Carlin just steps in) "They haven't told me who's my replacement."

*(On feeling lucky to be in his profession) "My dad was an iron miner and worked underground."

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Was it all the layups we've been missing?

The Sun Friday pickup basketball crew discovered that its home court soon will be no more, converted into a skate park by Howard County.

In the meantime, a gang of eight braved the heat yesterday for four cross-court games. One of Z's tall progeny appeared. Let's call him J-Z. And let's watch him drive to the basket with abandon.

Shutterbug's long-range shooting cooled -- it was about the only thing that did Friday -- possibly because there were no three-point lines drawn on the court as being played. He showed J-Z some of his inside game instead.

Dead Man Walking kept trying to be the last of the 5-9 post men and committed several turnovers for his troubles. The Big Redhead kept launching that Jerry Lucas-esque outside shot and talking about how much his beloved Trail Blazers had helped themselves on draft day. Z continued to prove you can't coach height. Pesky Andy proved once again how pesky hustle can be. He might have been inspired by annoyance that no one wanted to wear the pinnies he brought.

And overall, it was a lesson that mad dogs and Englishmen aren't the only ones who go out in the midday sun.