The Howard Johnson's next to the assisted suicide clinic references the short story 'Welcome to the Monkey House' by 'Kurt Vonnegut'.
This episode was rated M (Mature) in Australia, and 15 in UK because of suicide.
The title is a reference to the film "Million Dollar Baby".
The episode's plot is similar to season 10's "The Old Man and the C Student" when Bart's antics in front of the Olympic Committee cost Springfield the chance of hosting the Olympics.
In this episode Grandpa Simpson costs Springfield the chance of having an NFL team however in "Love is a Many Strangled Thing" the Simpsons are seen attending a Springfield Atoms football game so it is likely that Springfield eventually did get an NFL team.