Metrodome Demolished

Minneapolis' Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome has been partially demolished. The building will be gone before football resumes in September. The dome hosted both the Minnesota Vikings and Twins for numerous years. The stadium opened in 1982. The Minnesota Twins played there until 2009 and the Vikings claimed it as their home since it opened. The Twins already built their new stadium and the city will host the midsummer classic, the Major League Baseball all star game at Target Field on July 15, 2014. However the Vikings don't have a new stadium to play in for the 2014-15 season. They will play at the University of Minnesota field where the Vikings hosted the Chicago Bears when the Metrodome roof caved in after snowfall in December 2010.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/wp/2014/02/24/metrodome-partially-destroyed-with-controlled-explosives-video/?tid=hpModule_a4df998e-86a7-11e2-9d71-f0feafdd1394
http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/sports/2014/02/24/dnt-metrodome-demolished.kare.html

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Wins Daytona 500

After a 6 hour and 22 minute rain delay, the 2014 Daytona 500 resumed around 8:30 PM eastern time Sunday night. The historic race was won by the sport's most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr. He won his second Daytona 500 and he also won the race in 2004. Junior was in the midst of a long drought without wins (last 55 races) with his last one coming in June of 2012 at Michigan ending a then 143 race winless streak. He is also the son of the great Dale Earnhardt Sr. who won seven championships beginning in 1980 and winning his final in 1994. It was also the Daytona 500 that claimed Dale Sr.'s life in 2001.
http://espn.go.com/racing/nascar/cup/story/_/id/10509602/dale-earnhardt-jr-wins-daytona-500

Costas Won't Host Olympics for First Time in over 20 Years

Sportscaster, Bob Costas, won't be hosting the 2014 Olympics on NBC in Sochi due to an eye infection. He has hosted every year since 1988 including baseball and football pre- and post-games as well. Costas tried to battle through it with special glasses but his eyes were pink and looked bad. His golden voice will be missed. Costas will likely travel back to the U.S. instead of staying in Sochi with the bad enviroment. Matt Lauer and his show called Today Show will be the replacement. His streak has been compared to Cal Ripken Jr.'s streak of 2632 straight MLB games.

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/feb/11/bob-costas-red-eye-olympics-sochi-matt-lauer/
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1955944-bob-costas-eye-infection-forces-host-to-be-temporarily-replaced-by-matt-lauer?utm_source=cnn.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=cnn-sports-bin&hpt=hp_bn15

MLB Spring Training

MLB Spring Training opens this week with all 30 teams requiring their pitchers and catchers to report. Less than a week after, most teams will have their entire roster report. All teams play in either Arizona or Florida. There are 15 teams in each league. The Cactus League teams train near Phoenix, Arizona and the Grapefruit League teams in southern Florida. There are exhibition games almost daily for each team from late February until the end of March. Opening night on March 30 when the Dodgers play the Padres. On March 31, the remaining 28 teams will have their own opening days.

http://mlb.mlb.com/springtraining/