[Balanor]

Yes! I'm giving it to Willow since you got it half right. Al Swearengen was indeed the inspiration for the half-orc tavern owner Sworingin. Go check him out in the Watering Hole of Umratharos (yes, yes - I know some people will blanche at the idea of leaving the southern cities...but do it anyway!):
The Watering Hole is run by this thoroughly despicable and conniving half-orc. Sworingin's saloon is the most rough-and-tumble place in a rough-and-tumble part of Umratharos. Seldom a day goes by without someone being carted out of his establishment, destined for a pig's trough.

And as far as why the TV show Swearengen swore so much, I think the general consensus was they did it pretty much for the shock/controversy factor. So if you ever want to get jaded to the 'F' word quickly, just watch a couple episodes of it, and before long you won't hardly even notice it anymore. 63 times in less than an hour. Impressive. ;)
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/tele...sing_x.htm