Triple Threat Tackling franchising in the sports tournament field.

Dave King, president and CEO of Fort Collins, Colorado'sTriple Crown Sports Inc., admits his company had selfishbeginnings. From 1982 to 1987, Dave and his wife, Annette, both 42,ran a series of softball tournaments in Colorado. Working full timefor an insurance company at the time, Dave had no long-term visionfor the series.

But in 1987, Dave quit his job in favor of making sports afull-time business. Ten years later, the Kings decided to franchisetheir amateur sports marketing and production business.

Today, Triple Crown Sports has three franchisees, one each inNevada, Utah and Colorado, and 10 company-owned units nationwide.As for filling in the 200 available units across the United States,the company is looking for entrepreneurs who have "been in thecorporate environment, don't mind the chaos of large events andgroups, and have no fear of long hours outdoors," saysDave.