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

Question:

Answer:

CUPWORLD

Length:

Similar Crossword Questions:

Word that can precede the first word of the twelve starred entries in this puzzle
Collective name for this puzzle's half-dozen starred entries
Neologism that describes any of this puzzle's starred entries
What are featured in the theme entries of this puzzle
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
Director of the eight starred films in this puzzle, who was born on 2/23/1889
Theme of the starred entries
Letter that, as it appears in the middle of this grid, can precede the first words of the starred entries
The three in each of this puzzle's theme entries
Activity suggested by this puzzle's theme entries
A synonym for it can be found inside this puzzle's four longest entries
This puzzle's theme entries, e.g.
Postseason gridiron game, and a hint to the puzzle theme found in starred answers
Insincere talk, and a hint to the starts of this puzzle's four other longest entries
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
Charged particle taken from this puzzle's four longest entries
One of the four that end this puzzle's starred answers
What the four longest entries in this puzzle (except this one) are examples of
Expatriate seeking protection
Piece of work found in this puzzle's longer entries
Soft stuff found in this puzzle's four longest Across entries
Word that has two diametrically opposed meanings (like this puzzle's eight theme entries)
What this puzzle's three longest entries are all about?