MAVERICK⁽'⁾S PACERS
I really enjoyed today's collaboration between two solid crossword constructors Amie & Amanda. A sports teams theme we have seen before, where the monikers are combined to make a new, funny/punny answer. Today's team names are from the National Basketball Association, the professional organization of a game I have no interest in whatsoever - I'd rather watch golf. I think it has to do with the squeak of sneakers on hardwood - that and the fact that one only needs tune-in to the last 30secs to see who wins, IMHO. Lot's of 3LWs, only five(ish) names, and all the theme answers are unique;
20. Peddles pearls of wisdom?: HAWKS NUGGETS - Atlanta / Denver - see below
28. Observes casual Friday at the office?: BUCKS BLAZERS - Milwaukee / Portland *¹
49. Gains barbers' equipment?: NETS CLIPPERS - Brooklyn / Los Angeles - *²
58. Microsoft virtual work gathering, and what can be found in 20-, 28-, and 49-Across:
TEAMS MEETING - When I worked at Westhampton Architectural Glass, the only thing we used TEAMS software for was to plan lunch; someone would put up, about 11am, a hint about what they were interested in eating, e.g. "pizza?" - and for the next hour, we would debate what to eat and who was going to pick up the food 😜
The list of all NBA teams
Lightning Affect~? = SPURS THUNDER
Steals from NASA~? = KNICKS ROCKETS
*¹ - Technically, it's the TRAIL Blazers . . .
*² - Technically, a BOROUGH of NY, not the city . . .
And Away We Go~!
ACROSS:
1. Annoy: IRK
4. Bridge action: BID - Not TIE, as in span - that's the wrong kind of bridge - I like this type - 19 bizarre bridges, 12 unusual bridges
7. Floated in the air: WAFTED
13. "Good Grief" director Levy: DAN - name #1 - I'm following the "Hahtoolah Convention"
14. Pros: ACES
16. Iggy the Beanie Baby, for one: IGUANA - AND - 29D. Humphrey the Beanie Baby, for one: CAMEL - I still have one Beanie Baby, and three Webkins; had a pet iguana Zeus, too - name(ish)
Yes, Iggy is supposed to be blue . . .
17. Big fuss: ADO
18. Noodle with a sarashina variety: SOBA - I'm getting the hang of all these four-letter food-types; SOBA, NORI, UDON, MISO, etc
19. "Well, that came out of nowhere": RANDOM
23. "Never mind, I guess": "...OR NOT."
24. New prefix: NEO
25. Sword handle: HILT - not a week goes by without a Wed dupe of a Monday fill . . . .
32. Single-celled organism: AMOEBA
35. "__ Te Ching": TAO - name(ish) - the Wiki
36. Legend-ary achievement?: EGOT - The Grand Slam of Entertainment - Emmy (TV), Grammy (music), Oscar (Hollywood/movies) and Tony (Broadway/stage)
37. Fin. neighbor: NORway
38. Music box?: AMP - I liked this clue for a crossword staple
40. Emoji alternative: GIF
Now The Harlem Globetrotters I can watch~!
42. "Kings & Queens" singer Max: AVA - name #2 - I know the Aerosmith song
43. Like some faces: OVAL - I liked making my avatar on Facebook - but I have a "pear-shaped" face
45. Settings for some TV dramas: ERs - ER is an obvi example, plus tons of others seen here;
I'm not one for any hospital drama, but I did like House, MD
52. "Can I get a __?": "I messed up": "RE-DO~?" or a Mulligan, in golf-speak
53. __ Tomé and PrÃncipe: SAO - name(ish)
54. Athlete Ledecky who went viral by swimming with a glass of chocolate milk on her head: KATIE - well, I did not know about this - ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ - name #3
Yup, a glass of milk - but not a $5 Shake . . . .
61. Wyndham chain: RAMADA
64. Viral post: MEME
65. Sully: MAR - stain, dirty, damage, ruin, etc.
66. Exposure therapy target: PHOBIA - what's yours~? I am afraid to reveal mine - which, uh, by default, makes clear it's Phobophobia
67. Garment worn under a dress: SLIP
68. One who sounds just like you: EWE - ah, not APE - a very clever meta clue
69. Sitcom about a couple living in a haunted house: GHOSTS - I've only seen the ads for this show
70. Tense NBA periods, for short: OTs - and a bonus 'Easter Egg'
71. Good to go: SET - "got my go-bag, I'm set~!"
DOWN:
1. State that's home to the Museum of Clean: IDAHO - learning moment - the website
2. Weather tracker: RADAR
3. Not just assumed: KNOWN
4. Low-pitched brass instrument: BASS TUBA - this seems a bit redundant for me, but here's more - this clue/answer needed to show up on a Jazzbumpa trombone Wednesday~!
5. Screen symbol: ICON - clecho with - 31. Screen symbol: STAR - I filled them correctly the first time
6. Prove false: DEBUNK - the X-Files word
7. Pipe cleaner center: WIRE - Huh - I didn't know I had a wire at my center....how ironic, having left the pipe organ company, that I made the cover of The Diapason magazine, and featured inside as well
That's Splynter in the overalls, 35lbs heavier - sheesh
8. "__ All Along": "WandaVision" spinoff: AGATHA - name #4 - more on IMDb
9. Like some small candy bars: FUN-SIZE - 'tis the season~!
10. Small amount: TAD
11. Musician Brian: ENO - name #5
12. Beaver project: DAM
15. Most wise: SAGEST
21. Expensive Japanese beef: KOBE - I tried WAGU, but it's Wagyu
22. Evacuation kit: GO-BAG - here's the 411 from 511 on what to have in yours
26. Following the rules: LEGAL
27. Treasure __: TROVE
30. Frawnche wine valley: LOIRE - Good WAG on my part; must have seen it in CWs before
32. Mystery writer?: ANONymous
33. Boxing pro: MOVER - I suppose this could be either "type" of boxer - the one who packs your stuff, and the "float like a butterfly" sparring expert
34. Give a speech: ORATE
39. Rainbow producer: PRISM - my brother has been reinvesting in classic albums on LP "vinyl" again
41. Permanently: FOR KEEPS
44. Papers needed for some trips?: LSD TABS - har-har~! Monster Magnet's first EP was "25...Tab", featuring a 32min trippy song - and a trippy video someone made here
Dave Wyndorf, lead singer, can be heard saying "make me a sa'mich" - among other things NSFW
46. Involuntary muscle movements: SPASMS - depends on the quality of the Acid, I guess~?
48. Future DA's exam: LSAT - LS 'dee' Acid Trip~?
50. Make changes with a collaborator: CO-EDIT - I'm guessing both "A" authors did on this one....
51. Large citrus fruit: POMELO - ORANGE fit as well; here's a cool image of a lot of citrus fruit
55. Multiplied by: TIMES - L x W = A; length TIMES width equals area
56. "I'm __": "You blow me away": "IN AWE~!"
57. "Snowy" bird: EGRET
59. Smallish batteries: AAAs
60. Give off: EMIT
61. D&D, for one: RPG - Roll Playing Game - in my youth, I was all about Dungeons & Dragons
62. "That hits the spot": "AHH~!"
63. Cow sound: MOO
Splynter
Notes from C.C.:
Happy 84th birthday to dear Jayce! Your steady presence in our little crossword family means so much to all of us.
May today bring you comfort, a few smiles, and the quiet joy of knowing how deeply you're valued. Sheng Ri Quai Le, John!
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| Jayce and his wife on their wedding day |
