Will What Happened in Vegas, Stay in Vegas??

This past weekend the NBA held its annual All Star Weekend.. One different theme from this weekend was that the game was held in none other than the gambling mecca of the world, Las Vegas. This marked the first time in which a city that didn't host an NBA team, hosted its mid season All Star game. The always eclectic and extravagant city had a little bit extra boost this weekend from all the star power that arrived to see the best players in the world put on their usual no defense, dunking exhibition. Every one from Jay-Z to Puff Daddy, Wayne Newton, to David Hasslehoff were there. And you know that when David Hasslehoff shows up, it must be a big deal!
The weekend pretty much played out as it usually does. Black guy wins race. White guy wins shooting contest. Black guy wins dunking contest. Same old song and dance from years past. The major difference from this weekend to me, was the excitement of the Vegas community to have pro sports in their fine city, if only for a weekend. Big signs were hung from sides of enormous casinos. Lady Liberty at New York, New York Casino and Hotel donned a massive Dwight Howard #12 All Star Jersey. Even the mayor was out campaigning, although this time he wasn't trying to win an election, but instead showing off all his fabulous city has to offer.
With all this excitement surrounding a rather meaningless game, one has to wonder.. Why isn't there even one pro sports team that calls Las Vegas home? Las Vegas gets roughly 40 million tourists a year. Add that to the 2 million or so people that live there, and you have, in theory, one of the larger cities in the States. With teams all around the United States clamoring over how to afford a new stadium and teams going bankrupt because their city cant, or chooses not to, support the local club, why not VEGAS!? A city that already has a plot set aside by that very same mayor to build a stadium should a team arrive. A city that could easily build a privately funded, state of the art, stadium. A city that got decked out for an EXHIBITION game...
The one glaring reason why no league has chosen to put a pro franchise in Las Vegas is simple.. As stated earlier, IT IS the gambling mecca of the world. Sports has such a phobia of gambling desecrating the purity of their sport, that they are all afraid to even give Vegas a chance. I think these leagues are missing the point. Gambling is everywhere! People gamble over everything. If people want to gamble on something, anything, they can find the means to do so. Hell, there are web sites that even allow you to bet on who will win Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars or Who will be our next President. If people were going to cheat at gambling in the NBA or NFL, it would have happened already. If people had that little dignity to throw a game because they could win large heaps of cash, point shaving would be rampant by now.
The point is, from Minnesota, I can bet on the Los Angeles Lakers. I can bet on any team while sitting at home in my skivvys. Having a pro team is Las Vegas would be no different from having a sports team anywhere else in the US, except the fact that there would now be pro sports in a city desperately longing for it.
Maybe a solution for all those opposed would be a ban on wagers involving the Home team. It may be a bit hypocritical but if thats what it takes for that city to have a sports franchise, then so be it.
Think about this.. now besides all the glitz, glamor, and excitement that Las Vegas has to offer, they would also have a major sports team to root for. Going to games would be an experience... like how its supposed to be. A entire city built for entertainment would have another chip in the big game.
This weekend was definitely the time to be in Vegas to watch the NBA showcase its best and brightest young stars. Just think if it were like that every week for 8 months out of every year.
Intriguing, I'd say..