Photo via Oakland Raiders

NFL and Oakland Raiders officials, Nevada politicians, celebrities and Raiders of the past gathered in Las Vegas on Monday for the official groundbreaking for the team's future home - Las Vegas Stadium.

Nevada governor Brian Sandoval, Raiders owner Mark Davis and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell shoveled the first scoops of dirt on the spot where the $1.9 billion stadium will open in 2020.

"The greatness of the Raiders is in its future."

The groundbreaking ceremony rolls on in Vegas. @TwitterMoments: https://t.co/fmPQfIBnBD pic.twitter.com/xap7Mill5g

— OAKLAND RAIDERS (@RAIDERS) November 14, 2017

"It will be seen around the world as a reflection of the spirit of Las Vegas - a resilient city on the rise," Goodell said. "This is a very significant day in the franchise's storied history and a tangible symbol of the team's future in Las Vegas."

The ceremony began with a tribute to victims of the Oct. 1 shooting in Las Vegas. The team and local civic leaders recognized law enforcement and first responders, with a standing ovation from attendees, which included numerous Raider greats.

A who's who is here for the @RAIDERS stadium groundbreaking. @govsandoval, #RaiderNation great Howie Long, @nfl Commissioner Roger Goodell. #Vegas pic.twitter.com/kAYURF4vOo

— Clark County Nevada (@ClarkCountyNV) November 14, 2017

NFL owners approved the team's relocation in March, with 31 of 32 voting in favor. The Raiders will play at Oakland Coliseum through next year. Davis has expressed openness to staying in Oakland in 2019, although Goodell said the league would look into potential venues for that season.

Great sportsmanship in Florida

It's a feeling unlike any other when you realize you've played your final game with your high school teammates.

Miramar High School senior receiver Abdul Ibrahim understandably took it hard when his Patriots fell 28-20 to Park Vista in first-round playoff action, but Park Vista players and a coach took time to console him on the sideline.

Respect to Park Vista.
Class.
Good game. pic.twitter.com/wsN8ETOnmS

— MALIK (@ErrolWisdom) November 11, 2017

While Miramar ended its season at 9-2, on Friday, Park Vista (10-3) will play Atlantic (9-1-1), which narrowly beat them in a 10-3 battle on Sept. 22, in the next round.

Emotional TD in San Francisco  

It's been a tough season for the San Francisco 49ers, but Sunday showed how a team remains a family regardless of wins and losses.

When receiver Marquise Goodwin scored an 83-yard touchdown that put the 49ers ahead of the New York Giants, he broke down in the end zone. Goodwin and wife Morgan had lost their newborn baby just hours earlier due to complications. Overwhelmed with emotion, Goodwin's teammates were there for him.

C.J. going DEEP to @flashg88dwin for the TD! 83 yards to the 🏡 #NYGvsSF pic.twitter.com/snZKzSwVJB

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) November 12, 2017

Goodwin's score helped push the 49ers to a 31-21 victory, their first of the season.

Company helps youth team after airline folds

KHON2 reports that when Hawaii's Island Air recently announced its shutdown after 37 years of business, Kauai Youth Football was one of many customers affected. The league spent months raising $24,000 to fly to Oahu for a tournament, and their flights and money were now gone.

Enter Times Supermarkets, which stepped in to cover airfare for the four teams and one cheer squad.

“For us, it was kind of a no-brainer,” said Christopher Broden, Times Supermarkets senior director of marketing. “The kids, youth, are our backbone and what’s going to help us perpetuate in the future. We felt it was an opportune moment. We knew we had to get involved.”

“We’re so grateful for that,” said Brad Hiranaka, Kauai Youth Football president. “You should have seen the kids' faces on Saturday. After the first game, I put the teams together. I told them the good news. Oh, their faces were so ... it was amazing. Brought tears to everybody’s eyes.”

Organization promotes veteran officials

Photo via Post Independent

Vicki Salemi of the New York Post tells the story of Battlefields to Ballfields, a nonprofit whose mission is to provide "scholarships to veterans to integrate them into their communities through officiating." 

Mike Pereira - current Fox Sports rules analyst and former NFL vice president of officiating - started the group to both help vets and alleviate an ongoing referee shortage.

“They told me they miss being part of a team, having a mission, a goal,” Pereira said. "Plus, they have discipline, the ability to concentrate, lack of fear. Suddenly, I started thinking about my days when I ran the NFL program - that’s exactly the type of person I was looking for when I recruited officials.”

Battlefields to Ballfields launched in February and enrolled 68 men and women this fall.

“Many vets look to get back into their communities and aren’t necessarily well taken care of,” Pereira said. “Once you get into this, there’s a uniqueness to it. It’s an incredible feeling. You think parents and kids yelling will bother vets? No.”