Goodman has lobbied and prodded owners and commissioners in all major sports to relocate or expand to his orgiastic oasis. Vegas currently hosts major events in boxing, NASCAR, Arena Football, Triple-A baseball and tennis. Also, the city locked up a bid to host the 2007 NBA All-Star Game. They will be the first non-NBA city to do so.

With the recent financial difficulties of pro sports franchises in Florida, Portland, Seattle, San Diego and New Orleans, the number of potential suitors for Las Vegas seems to be at its pinnacle. Goodman said that discussions have been "real hot" with the NHL.

However, not everyone shares his optimism.

"I believe Las Vegas will not be seriously considered until someone steps up and builds a new arena to host a team," said Jay Kornegay, executive director of the sportsbook at the Las Vegas Hilton. "Right now it seems like Las Vegas is just being used as a pawn for some owners to strike deals around the country."

Sin City's greatest strength is also its greatest weakness when it comes to seducing a team into its hypnotic trance. The reason there isn't a team in Las Vegas already has little to do with being the 47th ranked television market, its lack of a state-of-the-art arena or its graveyard of defunct pro franchises since 1976. No, Las Vegas doesn't have a team today because it permits legalized gambling and is seen by some as a modern Sodom and Gomorrah.

It's true that gambling and hedonism are at the soul of Las Vegas. But that's what gives it such a unique relationship with Sports. Vegas is Switzerland with slot machines. The hometown loyalty is to the point spread and every precious edge that she provides. People there are fans of everyone and no one, with allegiance based on whoever provides the best opportunity for a payday. Sports fans in Las Vegas are mercenaries, bounty hunters and war profiteers. And it's unlikely that their attitude will ever change.

That is what strikes Fear into the rulers of the major sports. They are afraid of point-shaving or players consorting with criminal elements. They are scared of anything that could be viewed as a conflict of interest and their hard-line stance against gambling is done in an effort to preserve the integrity of the game. (That is, the integrity remaining after sham officiating, performance enhancing drugs and uneven distribution of wealth.)

Needless to say, this stance by owners and executives is the height of hypocrisy. Goodman stated that the NFL's public actions and outward opposition to gambling is "the most disingenuous reasoning" that he'd ever heard. He also believes there's already illegal gambling at live sporting events in most other sports.

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