It has been reported that UFC will announce that Holly Holm will defend her bantamweight championship against Miesha Tate on March 5, 2016, in Las Vegas.

Holm became a household name by defeating Ronda Rousey by knockout to win the championship. At one point in time, it appeared that Holms’ next fight would have been a rematch against Rousey in July. Holms, who prefers to fight more frequently, expressed some displeasure when it was thought that she would be forced to wait 10 months between fights.

With no definitive return date for Rousey, the show must go on.

Former Los Angeles Laker and Clipper, Lamar Odom, was released from Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles to a private rehab facility. Odom’s transfer comes three months after being hospitalized in critical condition after being found unconscious in a Las Vegas brothel. He continues to improve but still faces a long road to recovery. We wish him continued improvement and healthy recovery.

Griffey Jr. surpasses the previous record of 98.84% held by Tom Seaver

Congratulations are in order for Ken Griffey, Jr. who along with Mike Piazza will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016. Griffey, Jr., who was known for wearing his baseball hat backwards, received 99.32% of the vote which is the highest percentage received by anyone. He surpasses the previous record of 98.84% held by Tom Seaver.

Also, former NY Mets catcher Mike Piazza is a member of the 2016 class to be elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame. As the number 1,390 pick in the 1988 draft, Piazza holds the distinction of being the lowest draft pick to ever be elected into the Hall of Fame. This is his fourth time being on the ballot for induction. During his career, he was a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers and the NY Mets. He has chosen to be inducted as an NY Met.

New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles made some post-season personnel changes. Special teams coordinator Bobby April has been relieved of his duties. Assistant Special Teams Coach, Steve Hagen, and Assistant Offensive Line Coach, Ron Heller, were also given their walking papers. Special Teams has been a sore spot for the New York Jets in what was considered a successful season.

McAdoo, Spagnuolo, Austin Interviewed for Giants Head Coach Position

The search for a new head coach continues for the New York Giants. Current offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo and current defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo for the NY Giants have interviewed to replace Tom Coughlin.

Austin, Gase, and Marrone have their hats in the Giants head coach ring

McAdoo has also interviewed with the Philadelphia Eagles. Another candidate, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, also met with the Giants organization in hopes of becoming the next head coach. Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase whose name has generated considerable buzz has his proverbial hat in the ring. Former Buffalo Bills head coach Doug Marrone rounds out the list of current potential candidates. It is not known at this time, who any additional candidates will be, if any.

In Tom Coughlin news, the Philadelphia Eagles have requested permission from the New York Giants to interview Coughlin for their vacant head coach position. Even though Coughlin resigned from his position, the Eagles need permission to speak to him because there is one year left on his contract.

Nets loss to Spurs comes one day after organizational shake-up

The San Antonio Spurs entered the Barclays Center in Brooklyn Monday night to take on the Brooklyn Nets with a seven-game winning streak since December 26th. On the other hand, the Nets, already without injured starting point guard Jarret Jack for the rest of the season and injured defensive player Rondae Hollis-Jefferson who is not scheduled to return until March, were now playing for the first time without Lionel Hollins as their head coach.

Hollins parted ways with the Nets organization yesterday and assistant coach Anthony Brown took the reigns as head coach for this contest and for the remainder of the season. One of Brown’s first decisions as head coach was to insert Wayne Ellington and Donald Sloan into the starting lineup.

Spurs power forward LaMarcus Aldridge got off to a hot start by scoring ten straight points at the open of the contest, but the Nets limited the Spurs’ scoring opportunities by rebounding and capitalizing on fast break opportunities. Newly minted point guard Shane Larkin used his quickness to penetrate the defense to score points or to create scoring opportunities for open teammates. By being effective on both sides of the ball, the Nets kept the score close, trailing by seven points at halftime.

San Antonio extended its lead to 21 points by the end of the third quarter with a balanced attack aided by five offensive rebounds and allowing none for the Nets. The Spurs never relinquished the lead winning the game 106-79.

Brook Lopez won the battle of the centers, holding Tim Duncan to eight points for the evening while scoring a team-high 18 points. LaMarcus Aldridge led all scorers with 25 points.

The Nets fell to 10-28 and Coach Brown offered this perspective for the rest of the season by stating “I think our guys’ mentality right now is pretty good, they want to get in, they want to work and you know try to use that to my advantage.”

As hard as I try, I can’t remember the exact moment that I was introduced to sports. I just know that it has always been a part of my life like the air I breathe. My viewing ranged from basketball, football, baseball, tennis, gymnastics, and swimming, but my love of football and basketball reigns supreme.

My weekends have always consisted of spending hours in front of the television watching my favorite gladiators engage in battle. When I was in high school, I began to follow college basketball, in particular, Duke University and now I bleed blue! As a lifetime New York Giants and Los Angeles Lakers fan, I have been blessed to see my teams hoist championship trophies over their heads and it was almost like I was sharing in their moment.

The need to share my passion for sports prompted me to start my own blog called stilettoandsports. Here is where I get to impart my thoughts on some of the current topics trending in the world of sports.

When I am not watching, writing, talking or thinking about sports, I love to eat! I am a self-professed foodie and I love to try new restaurants and cuisines. I also love listening to music, dancing, traveling, and bowling.

Texas Christian University quarterback Trevone Boykin was arrested today and charged with striking a public servant, resisting arrest and public intoxication in San Antonio, TX.

Boykin was in an altercation at a bar after being heckled by some of the patrons. Boykin and his teammates were in San Antonio to play in the Alamo Bowl on January 1st. Boykin was subsequently suspended from the bowl game.

Palmer and Arizona Cardinals Numbers Make a Compelling Case for NFL MVP

In most people’s eyes, it is a two-man race to the honor of MVP. New England Patriots QB Tom Brady and Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton are the talk of the town and the winner between the two fluctuates based on weekly performances. However, there is one name that is seemingly left out of the conversation, Carson Palmer, quarterback of the Arizona Cardinals.

Carson Palmer is quietly leading the Arizona Cardinals on a path to a possible Super Bowl run. He is leading the league in QBR with an average of 83.1. According to NFL.com, he has a higher average yardage per pass than both Brady and Newton and also boasts a higher rating than both. His team is currently on a nine-game winning streak and their dominating win over Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in week 16 left them number one on the power rankings.

In addition to the number one power ranking, the Arizona Cardinals are complete on both sides of the ball. The first in the league in total offense, third in yards per passing, and sixth in rushing yards per game. One the defensive side, the numbers are just as impressive. They are fifth in the league in total defense which measures yards per game allowed by opponents. In terms of rushing yards allowed per game, they rank fifth and are tied for seventh place in passing yards allowed. All of these statistics are as of week 16. If offense wins games and defense win championships, then the Cardinals have what it takes to hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy in February.

Out in the desert, Carson Palmer and the Arizona Cardinals are making a sandstorm in the NFL rankings.

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning vehemently denies the claim of HGH use

An Al-Jazeera report claims that Peyton Manning was supplied human growth hormone (HGH) after his neck surgery in 2011. Manning, along with other noteworthy athletes, were named in the report as having received the hormone from the Guyer Institute located in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Former Guyer Institute employee Charlie Sly stated in the report that the hormone was repeatedly mailed to Manning’s home but addressed to his wife, Ashley Manning.

Photo: Peyton Manning and his wife, Ashley Manning

Peyton Manning vehemently denied the allegations of HGH use. A spokesperson for Peyton confirmed that Ashley was a patient at the clinic but did not offer further details as to the nature of her care. Peyton has also declined to provide further insight to his wife’s medical care.

Charlie Sly has since recanted his account insisting that he purposely fed false information to Liam Collins who was fitted with a hidden camera for the investigative report. Sly also confirmed that he was an employee at the Guyer Institute in 2013 and not in 2011 when Peyton Manning was a patient of the clinic. Al-Jazeera reporter Deborah Davies stands by the report and asserts that the report never claimed that Peyton Manning took the hormone.

Do you believe Peyton’s denial?