Franchise

Sixth in a series of 25 THE SETUP: The Sixers were coming off a 6-year freefall in which their victory total dropped each season. The franchise was on life support and it needed an infusion of vitality. Enter Pat Croce. WHEN IT came to being a pro sports franchise president, Pat Croce was a neophyte. Oh sure, he proved that he was one hell of an entrepreneur, turning his physical therapy business into a $40 million pay day. But his strengths were his boyish charm, his charisma and his persistence.

In the space of just eight games, the Eagles season has been transformed from the NFL equivalent of a documentary full of pathos and high drama to a low-budget science-fiction flick with a single plot point left to reveal: When exactly will the meteor strike earth? Oh, it's coming, and the shadow of the thing is blocking out all the light - at least it can block - and the franchise is bracing for the shattering reverberations when it hits. The impact will occur when Jeffrey Lurie finally thumps his fist on the conference table, bringing an end to the long and successful tenure of Andy Reid.

LOS ANGELES - It's the question we've all been pondering from the second we heard that three more "Star Wars" movies were planned: Who will direct them? When George Lucas announced last week he was selling Lucasfilm to Disney for $4.05 billion, he also revealed that the long-rumored Episodes VII, VIII and IX were in the works. Instantly, fans began tossing around names of directors who'd be a good fit for this revered material. So let's call this a wish list, a wouldn't-it-be-cool list.

Maybe it will turn out to be no big deal. Maybe Andrew Bynum will miss November so he's at his best in May and June. Maybe Bynum just wants to be Jeff Ruland for Halloween. You are excused, however, for being skeptical about the 76ers' prize offseason acquisition. This is, after all, a city coming off two Phillies seasons held hostage by Chase Utley's knees. We have been told to remain calm and trust the team's word that all would be well. We have been bitten more than once and we're more than twice shy. Let us not forget, either: The Sixers are the franchise that never did quite recover from the trades that brought Ruland to town as the centerpiece of a post-Moses Malone retooling.

MOCKUMENTARY filmmakers Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman ("Catfish") know a thing or two about misdirecting an audience, as they proved again with 2011's "Paranormal Activity 3. " Together with returning screenwriter Christopher Landon, this time around they seem short on new ideas, however, relying more on the series' reputation for low-budget thrills to attract audiences. Regardless, by now Paramount's franchise is a brand unto itself, and it's unlikely that anything will stop the first few waves of fans boosting "Paranormal Activity 4" up the chart through Halloween at least.

Mike Birbiglia, Mr. Transmedia? Since 2008, when he first clambered on stage to turn his professional and relationship woes and weird sleep disorder into a painfully funny monologue, the mild-mannered comedian and storyteller has morphed Sleepwalk With Me into a hit one-man Off-Broadway show; a best-selling book; a running narrative on NPR's This American Life ; and now, a movie, cowritten by, directed by, and starring one Mike Birbiglia....

Five films, more than $660 million at the worldwide box office ... you have to hand it to Resident Evil . In 10 years, it has become - while few who enjoy good films have noticed - the most successful video-game film franchise in history. These movies have kept action-horror hack Paul W.S. Anderson in business and sustained model-turned-actress Milla Jovovich in between her other rare appearances on the big screen. The movies? To a one, violent, nonsensical bloodbaths, badly written, flatly acted.

When Rick Kimsey decided to start a business, a franchise seemed the best way to go. Buying a Doctors Express urgent-care facility meant he didn't have to start from square one - he had a concept and a service to sell. Urgent-care centers treat common non-life-threatening medical conditions such as colds, broken bones, rashes, and stomach ailments, usually without an appointment. It didn't matter that Kimsey had no medical training. But what sounded like a great plan wasn't so easy.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Zac MacMath made three saves in a shutout, but the Union could manage only a draw against the New England Revolution, 0-0, on Saturday night. MacMath did not face a shot on goal until the 61st minute, by New England's Stephen McCarthy. The Union (7-13-4) didn't do much with the few chances they were afforded, as their best chance came from Amobi Okugo's header in the 43d minute that bounced off the bar. Matt Reis had seven saves for the Revolution, whose winless streak reached a franchise-record 10 games.

As soon as Derrick Ross fell into the end zone with 1 minute, 18 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, he pushed himself up and sprinted to the 25-yard line. He squatted and pulled his arm back as if he were starting an imaginary lawn mower. Ross did that three times before topping off his celebration dance with a shoulder shimmy. The fullback has become accustomed to polishing off touchdowns with his dances - he's done it 31 times this season - but this one was celebrating another score as much as it was celebrating another win for his red-hot Soul team.