After a brief absence, O ‘n T Friday is back with a new look and format.  So to kick things off, we go off topic with the Friday Five:

1. NY Mets

Spring training is here and not a minute too soon. And with a potentially dominating front four of Johan Santana, Pedro Martinez, John Maine and Oliver Perez, I am stoked for the season.  And if someway, somehow, the Duaner Sanchez of 2006 returns, then the bullpen could be lights out.  Fingers crossesd starting…. Now.

2. NY Giants

The FA period started today and the Giants are looking at big voids at Safety (both starters gone) and OLB (one starter unsigned, another one coming off injury, and a key backup gone).  I like Michael Johnson stepping in at one safety slot, Kawika Mitchell may be resigned, and Mathias Kiwanuka can only (hopefully) get better, but there is already a lot of work to do in beginning the title defense.

(updated 1:53 pm) - According to the Associated Press, the Bills have agreed to a deal with former Giants linebacker Kawika Mitchell - So if you are an unemployed football player, the Super Bowl Champions have three job openigs.  Please apply inside.

3. Oscars

My wife loves watching the award shows red carpet specials, while I try to just stay awake if I happen to be in the room.  But I have a new found appreciation for the show after Gary Busey’s brain damage / (maybe) chemically fueled crashing of the Ryan Seacrest / Jen Garner interview.  The look of terror on her face (no doubt she had no idea who that was) coupled with Seacrest lamely trying to stick to his fluff script while a psycho was on the loose was the best scene from the night.

4. Mass Effect

It was announced this week that the expansion set for Xbox 360’s Game of the Year comes out on March 10th, which happens to be my birthday.  If any of the G-t-W’s loyal readers are looking for presents, I wouldn’t object to that one.

5. History Channel

With my favorite show 24 not on this season thanks to the #### writer’s strike, and the only reality show I watched, Deadliest Catch, also not on this season, I have been forced to channel surf for something new and found it.  So if you have a couple of spare hours, slide on over to the History Channel on Wednesday’s from 9-11p EST for Monster Quest and UFO Hunters, two documentary-style shows in which they attempt to either validate or disprove various reports on these ‘phenomenons’ all across the globe.

Now staying off topic, we are debuting a new feature: The Irrelevant Babe in the News Pic of the Week.  This week’s highlight is our favorite beach babe, Pam Anderson, who this week stunningly ended her third marriage:

So to all you out of shape rockers and 15-min of fame types, get your shots of penicilin and antibiotics ready, because Pam is a Ms. once more.

Finally, staying on topic, we have the return of the Shot of the Week, which has hit the mark four of the last picks.  This week, we are going with unbeaten El Gato Malo to remain as such in the Sham Stakes. 

This will be a big test for him, as he will be stretching out to 1-1/8 m and going two turns for the first time.  Now his pedigree is built for speed, not stamina (his sire El Corredor won the Gr-I Cigar Mile and his dam and granddam were all sprinters) but his domination has not hinted any distance limitations.  This race should be a good gage on whether his is a true Derby contender or not.

Now to wrap up the weekend before the first gate opens, a quick yet meaningful Top 5:

NFL Playoffs – Giants, Redskins, Jaguars and Titans.  Long live the underdogs.

Mass Effect – My wife came through and ME was waiting under the tree on the 25th, and I can’t recommend it enough.  Keep your overhyped PS’s and childlish Wii’s.  For quality over quantity, give me Xbox any day.

January 7th Bowl – I can’t believe a two-loss team coached by Les Miles is on the cusp on winning the 1/7/08 Bowl (I refuse to acknowledge the BCS system as any short of championship system).

Sudden Death – I believe I’m not the only one who is convinced we will see a nationally televised heart attack sometime in the near future during a Kansas football game.

Shot of the Week – After our pathetich attempts at multiple predictions backfired, we are starting the year of small and focusing only on one Shot of the Week.  The only subjective rule is that it cannot be an overwhelming favorite or champion, unless he/she is going against at least one more horse of similar stature.  For example, we are not allowed to pick Defensora in PR’s Clasico de Hostos nor Wait a While in the San Gorgonio (watch them both lose now).  So having set the stage for our failure, G-t-W selects Thorn Song in today’s Canadian Turf Handicap at Gulfstream Park. Never worse than second since moving to the turf, except to see the gray in front once more at the end.

Finally, G-t-W will today debut Off Topic Friday’s new weekly article, the Denise Milani pic of the week.  Why? Again we ask, why not?