re: Professional sports being 'fixed' or at least influenced...

I think the best word you used is “influenced”. There is a lot of money in sports and we all know money controls everything. Those who think and hope for the NFL to die are kidding themselves. Too much money being tossed around. Why did Alabama back into the BCS playoffs again? Money or viewership specifically. And I agree with you on the Vegas stuff.

My final note is that sports is reflecting life, governments to be more precise.