Guerrilla Marketing: Franchise Opportunities

I wasn't the only one to doubt the New Orleans Saints, but I was definitely one of the loudest.

If you read anything by me in the last month, you probably hated me if you were a Saints fan. Green Bay Packers fans can attest to that, as well (except they actually did lose).

I called the Saints defense dirty (even though I still think it kind of was).

The logic was there. Peyton Manning and his MVP season was there.

Dwight Freeney was even there.

But really, looking back, there was nothing that was going to stop this. This tidal wave of "Who Dat!?" fans, Archie Manning's soul torn between his son and his beloved franchise.

This was pure majestic bliss, and all for a city, a state, a franchise, that needed it more than anyone else in the world.

The New Orleans Saints and the entire state of Louisiana are partying like it's Mardi Gras. As they should be.

For all the doubters and haters (myself included) that Tracy Porter 74-yard pick-six was a slap in the face. A final "Who Dat ?" that left a bitter taste in your mouth.

And for all the fans and supporters that believed all along, it was nothing short of righteous. This was revenge and glorification on a football field.

This was Drew Brees playing his best, backed by a defense that wouldn't let Peyton Manning own them.

Seriously, 17 points? A pick-six to turn the tables? A goal-line stand when the game was almost certainly over?

Yeah, that's not too shabby.

Darren Sharper, Will Smith, Scott Fujita, and the rest of the lot. You've earned my respect.

I will never be a member of the "Who Dat" nation, but as a sports fan and as an unbiased writer (contrary to popular belief), I am mystified. More, blown away.

This is NFL beauty and glory at it's finest, and when you look over the entire body of work, the 13 wins to start (and the three straight losses to end) the regular season, this was just too good of an ending.

Once the Saints were 5-0, everyone was jumping on their bandwagon. Once they were 13-0, irate fans of opposing teams started screaming "fraud" and "set-up", claiming the Saints were given countless opportunities by refs to go 16-0 (see: Washington Redskins game).

But, really, that's just a load of crap.

Short of a still controversial NFC Championship overtime period, there's no doubt in this writer's mind that these Saints did this all on their own.

Drew Brees finally got the MVP award he deserved, despite arguably getting the snub for the regular season award.

Jeremy Shockey has been vindicated. Reggie Bush did his part, and for all intents and purposed, really can no longer be labeled a bust.

The Saints devoured the Arizona Cardinals, won a fist-fight with the Minnesota Vikings, and completely owned the Indianapolis Colts in the second half of the biggest stage in sports.

Tracy Porter was Larry Brown in two straight playoff games. Two straight big playoff games.

The Saints fought adversity once again, as they and their state have grown accustomed to, and stormed back in the second half, truly living up to the old adage, "No guts, no glory".

A gaudy 31-7 run (25-7 in the second half) to end the game was all anyone really had to know, in order to prove that this was a well-deserved win.

It wasn't easy. It took all 19 games. But finally, the Saints have our respect.

And the best part was, they didn't even earn it. They grouped together, just when everyone was betting against them, and they took it.

And for that, I say to the New Orleans Saints: Congratulations.

May the wounds dealt by Hurricane Katrina begin to fully heal. Let it be known that Drew Brees is among the greats.

Archie Manning, console your son while hiding your grin. It has finally happened and it was glorious.

For more NFL news and feature articles, go here .

After missing what was one of the greatest opportunities for a pun-titled sequel (why the hell wasn't it just called Fast & Four-ious?), the franchise which can't seem to stop putting the pedal to the metal is officially moving forward with another thrilling installment as Variety reports the cleverly titled Fast Five will bring back Vin Diesel and Paul Walker for even more high speed car racing. This confirms at least part of what Diesel told us himself via his Facebook page last month. He mentioned two more scripts from writer Chris Morgan, but I'm sure Universal will wait to make sure this one will be as lucrative as Fast & Furious first.

Once again directed by Justin Lin (of Tokyo Drift and Fast & Furious), the story finds franchise characters Dom (Diesel) and Brian (Walker) as fugitives being pursued by legendary lawmen. Universal is looking at a 2011 release which will bring this out about ten years after the first one was released way back in 2001. It's almost maddening that the franchise has sustained itself for ten years, and Conan O'Brien couldn't even get more than seven months out of "The Tonight Show." Yes, that was an unrelated, "other media" reference, I know, but I'm baffled that such a mediocre franchise has stayed so strong, especially when the most recent installment didn't even have kick-ass cars, killer car chases or great action sequences like in the first few.

Here's another hilarious bit of information: Fast & Furious was Universal's top grossing movie of last year with an unimpressive $155 million. In second was Couples Retreat with $109 million. You've got to love a studio that survives by rehashing a franchises like this one for its fifth go-around. Does that mean Fast Five will be their top grossing movie in 2011? I just hope Lin is able to get a budget big enough to actually pay his stars and get solid action sequences this time. Anyone out there still interested in seeing Fast Five?

Discover More: Casting News, Movie News, Opinions

Because there are such a variety of franchise opportunities available, there is no single educational path for everyone to take on the road to owning a franchise. Keep in mind, however, that when franchisers review your application for the right to purchase a unit, they'll take into consideration your previous experience in the area.

Obviously, a real estate company is unlikely to take a risk on you if you've never had any experience as a broker. In addition, there are some franchise opportunities that require degrees; for example, to own an environmental consulting agency, a business that helps companies meet government environmental standards, you'll have to be an engineer or geologist. But there are also many companies willing to sell to someone wanting to break into a new business. Franchisers will often include special training as part of the initial franchise fee.

Experts in the field stress the importance of gaining work experience before starting out with your own business. Hone your sales, management, and people skills and take the time to learn about the industry that interests you. Even if you don't plan on getting a college degree, consider taking some college-level courses in subjects such as business and finance. One recent survey of franchisees found that over 80 percent had attended college or had a college degree. This reflects the fact that many franchisees have worked for many years in other professions in order to have the money and security needed for starting new businesses. Some organizations and schools, for example, the Institute for Franchise Management at the University of St. Thomas, offer courses for prospective franchisees.

Some franchisers have their own certification process and require their franchisees to go through training. You may also want to receive the certified franchise executive certification offered by the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives, an organization affiliated with the IFA's Education Foundation. This certification involves completing a certain number of courses in topics such as economics and franchise law, participating in events such as seminars or conventions, and gaining work experience. Although this certification is voluntary, it will show your level of education and commitment to the field as well as give you the opportunity to network with other franchise professionals.

You may also need to obtain a small business license to own a franchise unit in your state. Regulations vary depending on the state and the type of business, so it is important that you check with your state's licensing board for specifics before you invest in a franchise.

As with any small business, you need self-motivation and discipline in order to make your franchise unit successful. Though you'll have some help from your franchiser, the responsibilities of ownership are your own. You'll also need a good credit rating to be eligible for a bank loan, or you'll need enough money of your own for the initial investment. You should be a fairly cautious person-many people are taken every year in fraudulent franchise schemes. But at the same time, you should feel comfortable taking some risks.