Store for athletes seeking protection? (And, onsides, what each of this puzzle's starred entries refers to)

Question:

Answer:

CUPWORLD

Length:

Similar Crossword Questions:

Neologism that describes any of this puzzle's starred entries
Collective name for this puzzle's half-dozen starred entries
Word that can precede the first word of the twelve starred entries in this puzzle
Director of the eight starred films in this puzzle, who was born on 2/23/1889
Letter that, as it appears in the middle of this grid, can precede the first words of the starred entries
A synonym for it can be found inside this puzzle's four longest entries
Like the order of the letters in the first words of the starred entries, before being shaken up
Local retailer, and an apt description of eight entries in this puzzle
Award won by lead actors in this puzzle's starred films: the winners' names are hidden "word search"-style in the grid (across, down or diagonally, and forward or backward)
Sales person's forte, and a synonym for the ends of this puzzle's three longest entries
Link buried in this puzzle's three longest entries
Physical principle whose equation explains the changes in this puzzle's theme entries
First of a pair of letters swapped six times in this puzzle's theme entries
It can follow the last word of this puzzle's theme entries
Expatriate seeking protection
Piece of work found in this puzzle's longer entries
Playoff series finale ... or an apt title for this puzzle considering the number and length of its theme entries
What this puzzle's theme entries have
Theme of the starred entries
Title for the mascots who appear at the beginning of the starred entries
Little ones who, they say, are made up of the ends of this puzzle's four longest entries
Activity suggested by this puzzle's theme entries
Hint for understanding this puzzle's starred answers
Interview show since 1947 ... and what this puzzle's starred answers do in two ways
Artist who contributes to each of the starred entries, in a way