Hi Doc
To try and answer a few of your questions,
You'll never see the violence fully taken out of the game of hockey. The sport is too fast moving and intense to play. The NHL is definitely moving in the direction of less violence with stronger penalties , but more importantly kids are being taught at a young age. I believe a lot of the violence now a days comes from all the protection they wear. For example they didn't wear helmets years ago and there were very few stick infractions. You will find it a lot easier to high stick someone or run him into the boards if you know he's wearing full body Armour.
The average "slapshot" is around 100 MPH.
Nascar is stockcar racing. Nascar is a governing body
Formula 1 in my opinion is better to watch then NASCAR but doesn't get the TV because US Tele can't get the commercial revenue from a global event. ( more money to be made on local sports).
These sports may been derived from English games but at least they were derived 
Did you know the very first baseball game played in North America was in Beachville Ontario
Canada. Just 20 miles from where I live.
Also Basketball was invented in Canada
Kenny
Go Knights...Come on Habs