Friday, Jan 30th, 2026 ~ Zachary David Levy

E

N

O

R

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STRIKE

The previous LA Times "Z-D-L" puzzle was one I blogged on Wednesday back in November - the Monty Python and the Holy Grail "just a flesh wound" masterpiece - if you happen to be a fan . . . Today Mr. Levy's construction features four themers that have a synonym for "speak" going UP the Down fills, but defined as its homonym; I was perplexed as to why I could not get the answer for 9D to gibe with the crossings, until - the V-8 can.  Not too difficult for a Friday, IMO, but we get a bit bogged down with the names again; a standard 15 x 15 grid, more than double the number of four-letter words to 3LWs, no circles, and missing only the "Q" for a pangram *.  The themers and reveal; 

4. Fast service: SSERPXE MAIL - Express is spelled "up" in the grid

9. Seize-the-day type: OG GETTER - here's where I sussed the theme, as I knew it had to be "GO"

27. Many a land-grant university: ETATS SCHOOL - State, going "up"

40. Hogwash: RETTU ROT - Utter, going "up"

25. Comment to a low talker, or what is found in 4-, 9-, 27-, and 40-Down: SPEAK UP - here's the collection of scenes from the "low talker" episode of  Seinfeld

She appeared in court for the finale, too

         's
         e
     t   r  e
t    i   e  r
u   a  h  o
B W T M

ACROSS:

1. Sticks (out): JUTS - AND it's crossing - 1D. Talked and talked: JAWED ( and a theme Easter Egg )

Now there's a juts/jawed combo

5. Site of an 1836 siege: ALAMO - starting with a geo name, #1

10. Got 100% on: ACED

14. Latin 101 word: AMAS

15. Enter again, as data: RELOG - a bit meh

16. Opera star: DIVA

17. Rouse: WAKE

18. Greg Maddux's record 18: GOLD GLOVES - I know so little about baseball, I started with NO HITTERS, but it didn't fit - name #2

20. "Self-Reliance" essayist: EMERSON - ah - Ralph Waldo; learning moment; more here - name #3

22. __ urchin: SEA

23. Sorta: "ISH" - many crossword clues/answers of late have drifted too far towards "ish"

24. Challenges, as a credit card charge: DISPUTES

26. Neutrogena product: T-GEL

It "appears" you need glasses to use the product

28. Crosses (out): X'ES - to "E" or not to "E"; that is the question - "X's" looks correct to me; but then again, "X'ed" seems OK

29. Stone fruit center: PIT - I've never eaten a stone - are they any good~?  Sounds crunchy

31. Lean: TILT

34. Department with direct marketing campaigns: SALES

37. __ noire: BETE - Frawnche, literally "black beast"; i.e., one's bane or bugbear

38. Côte d'__: AZUR - plus Frawnche; "azure ( blue ) coast" = French Riviera

39. Teen dance: PROM

40. Put on again: RE-AIR - pump in again; re-air

Now how's she gonna pedal in those shoes~?

41. Actress Garr: TERI - I liked her in "Young Frankestein" - name #4

Now listen very carefully . . . 

42. "Casablanca" role: ILSA - name #5

43. Edmonton CFL team: ELKS - no clue; Canadian Football League - more here - geo name(ish)

44. London's neighboring county: ESSEX - geo name #6

45. Terse denial: "NOT I."

46. Letter after sigma: TAU

47. __ Technica: tech news website: ARS - filled via perps and a WAG

48. Stick together: CLOT

50. Conveyances also known as tricycle rickshaws: PEDICABS

The Deluxe Model

55. Energizer size: AAA - ooof; not AAs

57. Run smoothly: HUM

59. Magenta kin: FUCHSIA - spelling moment for me - I had FUSCHIA

60. Spaceflight company based in Kent, Washington: BLUE ORIGIN

Captain Kirk was on a flight - the story here

63. Stalwart trees: OAKS - I could argue that all trees are "stalwart", by definition

64. In case: LEST

I like this 

65. Eye-shaped windows: OCULI - most of what I find online is round, not "eye" shaped; the Wiki

When I hear 'oculus', I think of the Pantheon

66. Possessive pronoun: ONE'S - e.g. "gird one's loins"

67. Org chart topper: EXECutive

68. Fundamental principle: TENET

69. Countess's title: LADY - Here's Tom Jones, now 85yrs old, married for 59(~!) years until the passing of his wife and lifetime love Melinda in 2016; I grew up listening to his baritone voice, as my parents were born & raised in England - more on Tom from Wiki here

"Never Had A Lady Before"

from "Rescue Me", his 1979 "disco" album; so many great songs

DOWN:

2. Savory quality: UMAMI

3. Views: TAKES - Friday cluing; as in "what's your ___ on this~?" but pluralized, meh

5. Jargons: ARGOTS - the "lingo" of a (usually secret) social group - the plural is again a bit 'meh'

6. Sierra __, Africa: LEONE - geo name #7

7. "__ set": ALL - vague; Friday

8. Online admins: MODS - moderators

10. Fuss: ADO

11. Makes more sophisticated: CIVILIZES - a weapon from a more "civilized age"

Your father's lightsaber

12. Festive nights: EVES - what are festive days~?  Adams~?

13. Run without saying goodbye, perhaps: DASH

19. Gamer's woe: LAG - think online gaming ( or someone taking too long to play a word in Scrabble )

21. Goes after, in a sense: SUES

30. Terse confirmation: "IT IS."

32. Entice: LURE

33. Cereal coveted by a silly rabbit: TRIX - name(ish) . . .

. . . are for kids~!

34. Whirl: SPIN

35. Folk singer Guthrie: ARLO - name #8, crossword staple

36. Fruitless endeavor: LOST CAUSE - stone fruitless = LOST QUARTZ 😜

37. Dracula player Lugosi: BELA - Here's Bella - one of the other trainers at the gym, wearing the shirt I made for my trainer Brett - that's him on the shirt; he and some of the other members are always mocking me for calling the gym equipment "tools" - hey, I do "work"(out) with them . . . name #9

44. Writer/illustrator Carle: ERIC - Didn't recognize the name - #10 - filled via perps - but I do recognize his work; I see he passed in 2021 at age 91.  His website

47. Marketing space: AD UNIT - I tossed in AD PAGE

49. "What do we have here?": "O-HO~!"

51. IRS convenience: eFILE

52. Mat position: ASANA - yoga~! yoga~! yoga~!

Animal House announces toga party

53. Trained for part of a triathlon: BIKED - good WAG; running and swimming are the other two events

54. Not very respectful: SASSY

55. Up to the task: ABLE

56. Ken's "Jeopardy!" predecessor: ALEX - I watched Mr. Trebek growing up; have not watched any Jennings episodes - name #11

58. Maze runners: MICE - Dah~!  I put in RATS

61. Brief "Blah, blah, blah": etc.

62. Squirt __: GUN - I bought a pair that actually have a pretend, Glock-like "slide" 

You lock the slide back to expose the fill hole, thus "loading" it

Splynter

Grid Flow 43.2

* Which "Q" would you prefer~?

The "Q"s of James Bond, 007

Wednesday, Nov 12th, 2025 ~ Zachary David Levy

 "YOUR ARM'S OFF~!"

Including the majestik møøse

This crossword could only appear on a Splynter Wednesday - I am one of those few people who "get" the humor and cleverness of the 1975 ( 50years ~! ) Monty Python & the Holy Grail movie, and have linked its various scenes several times here at the Corner in the past.  For those who do NOT "get it", my apologies for the following "homage" write-up; but for those who do....This was a pleasant puzzle from Zachary, with no circles - though a lot of names - and a standard grid with an even distribution of 3- & 4LWs.  Four themers, two of them 15-letter spanners, and each depicting a "skin surface injury"; 

17. Beach Boys hit that imagines Santa Claus in a hot-rod sleigh: LITTLE SAINT NICK - "Ni~!"

We had them on Monday, too - before my time, not my thing - only 2m15s

24. Extract information online: DATA SCRAPE - more here

38. Like some baked goods: MADE FROM SCRATCH - I make pizza from scratch now, using ground chicken for the crust, mixed with some cauliflower, then add my own healthy-choice toppings, like chicken pepperoni and low-fat mozzarella cheese

52. Notch on an analog watch: MINUTE MARK

James Bond (Daniel Craig ) wears Omega

and the 15-letter spanning reveal:

63. Iconic line from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," or what can be said about the ends of 17-, 24-, 38-, and 52-Across?: "JUST A FLESH WOUND"

The entire Black Knight scene with the iconic line @ 2:08

And Away To Camelot~!

ACROSS:

1. Milestone foods for an infant: SOLIDS

7. Rotten: BAD

"I feel fine~!"

10. Model Delevingne: CARA - We've had this "new" CARA in crosswords before - here's a link to the British model's mansion in LA - name #1

What a set of legs - I'm talking about the ones on the piano. . . maybe the dog's, too
 

14. Commemorative tablet: PLAQUE - found on teeth, and in arteries, too, but not commemorative . . . 

15. __ out a living: EKE - in an anarcho-syndicalist commune - and maybe truth; more here

Bloody peasant~!

16. Prayer ending: AMEN

A møøse once bit my sister

20. Info from covert ops: INTEL - "...and then leap from the rabbit, and taking the Frawnche by surprise"

if we build a large wooden badger . . . 

21. Belly button type: OUTIE - the alternative is an INNIE - like mine - is that TMI~?

22. Lass: GAL - "A Witch~!"

I got better . . . 

23. Some pajama tops: TEES - with fleece bottoms, under an electric blanket - so, so warm & cozy on cold winter nights~!😊

26. New Mexico town north-northeast of Santa Fe: TAOS - geo name #1

28. Meeting, informally: SESH - 21st-century-speak for session

29. Can. neighbor: USA

32. Ballet garb: TUTU

34. On a grand scale: EPIC - It IS the rabbit~!  That's no ordinary rabbit~!

 "I warned you...just a harmless little bunny..."

43. Adapter letters: AC-DC - not the Australian band this time

44. Careless eater: SLOB - AND - a clever crossing with 40D. Drinks carelessly: SLURPS

45. Yes vote: AYE - "...by a two-thirds majority, in the case of more major issues." - Dennis, 37yrs old

46. Wine list heading: REDS - also 'heads' the Cincinnati baseball teams list - fills it, and ends it, too.

50. Exhort: URGE - "I order you to be quiet~!" "Help~! Help~! I'm being repressed~!"

56. Hamlet, for one: DANE - Shakespeare - I toyed with SCOT, but that's Macbeth 

60. "It's __-win situation": "A NO" - "Ni~!" The behind-the-scenes making of the movie

Or 20 weird facts you didn't know - link

61. Image Awards gp.: NAACP - National Association for the Advancement of Colored People - today is the dealine for submissions for the Awards; more here

62. Jordan's capital: AMMAN - geo name #2

66. Cakesters cookie: OREO - sigh, crossword staple

67. Bracket shape: ELL - I am going to use "L" brackets to secure a set of shelves I am building to my office wall, then trim the top with crown - hopefully, it will be done by the time this publishes - I throw down this gauntlet ( at my own feet ) as a challenge~! - I'll post a pic in the comments - if I succeed

68. Tree-shaping art: BONSAI 

One that looks nice, and not too expensive

69. Breather: REST - my trainer Brett has moved me on to some bigger equipment, and the exercises are getting more difficult.  My weight has not changed, but I dropped another 1% of body fat.  I started at 43%; he wants me down to 18%, and this past Saturday it was 29%, so more than half-way there~!

70. Cryptography org.: NSA - National S--- Agency; if I tell you, "...then. you. shall. die. - Right~!"

71. Most senior: OLDEST

DOWN:

1. Bowler's challenge: SPLIT - Run Away~!

oh, not that kind of split . . .

2. Group of NFL blockers, in brief: O-LINE - the Offensive Line

3. Foamy coffee drink: LATTE

4. Measure of sharpness: IQ TEST - what is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow~?

I don't know that - aaaaaaaaah~!

5. Not sharp: DULL - clever clue adjacency

6. Understand: SEE 

7. Real humdinger: BEAUT - he's already got one, you see~?

( I told them we already got one~!)

8. Japanese dogs: AKITAS

9. Richards of "The Bold and the Beautiful": DENISE - name #2

10. Is able to: CAN

11. Latina friend: AMIGA - Espaniol feminine lesson

12. Go over again: RECAP - "Listen, in order to maintain air-speed velocity, a swallow needs to beat its wings forty-three times every second, right~?"

It could grip it by the husk . . . 

13. Joint above a foot: ANKLE

18. In order that: SO AS TO - a bit clunky, but it works

19. Private eyes, in pulp slang: TECS - deTECtives

24. Sullen: DOUR

25. "Cheers" star Perlman: RHEA - name #3

27. DOJ agency: ATF - Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms + Explosives, now - "Three sir~!"

The Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch

29. "Dexter: Resurrection" actress Thurman: UMA - yada yada 3LW Thurman = Ektorp name #4

30. Anatomical pouch: SAC

31. __ fuel to the fire: ADD

33. Hesitant syllables: UMs - could've been ERs, but a good WAG on my part

35. Fundraising org.: PTA

36. Showing no warmth: ICY - I'd rather just . . . sing~!

You're not going into a song while I'm 'ere~!

37. Nickname for Ernesto Guevara: CHE - Name #5

39. Beige hue: ECRU

41. Wine stopper: CORK - so UNcork is the starter~?

42. SCOTUS initials from 1993 to 2020: RBG - The Notorious RBG - SCOTUS = Supreme Court of the US, and one of its members, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, until 2020 - name #6

47. Sicilian volcano: ETNA - Crossword staple, geo name #3

48. Overpower with noise: DEAFEN - how I like my rock concerts

49. Biggie __: 1990s rap moniker: SMALLS - filled via perps, but I remembered him - better known as The Notorious B.I.G., and the inspiration for 42D above - name #7

51. Astronomer Halley with an eponymous comet: EDMOND - If I make it to its next pass through the inner solar system, I will be 90yrs old - name #8

52. Groundbreaking: MAJOR - Spamalot, the Broadway adaptation of MP and the Holy Grail, co-written by Python member Eric Idle, won Best Musical and more in 2005

53. Toughen: INURE

54. Schnozzes: NOSES

55. Amtrak option: ACELA - name(ish)

57. Entertain: AMUSE - "...and there was much rejoicing . . . yay."

"silly English kuh-nig-its"

58. Some maternal babysitters: NANAS

59. Call the whole thing off: END IT - I had ABORT; this is a breakup, not a mission

62. AFB no-show: AWOL - Air Force Base and Absent WithOut Leave

64. Tater __: TOT

65. "Task" network: HBO - Never seen the show, as I don't have Home Box Office streaming - I used to enjoy going to my aunt's duplex in the Bronx on Thanksgiving - they had cable HBO~!

Splynter

And now for something completely different . . . .

Sunday October 5, 2025 Zachary David Levy

Theme: "IT'S NOT LIKE THAT"  - Each common phrase is re-imagined as description of two things being contrasted.

22. Ice versus Stone?: AGE DISPARITY.

30. Cotton versus silk?: MATERIAL DIFFERENCE.

46. Dibbling versus broadcasting?: SOWING DISSENT.

67. Stilton versus cheddar?: SHARP CONTRAST.

90. Octopus versus starfish?: ARMED CONFLICT.

105. Foil versus saber?: POINTS OF CONTENTION. Both have pointed tips.

118. Agar versus broth?: CULTURE CLASH.

I got a chuckle out of ARMED CONFLICT clue. I didn't know "dibbling" is a planting method or that "broadcasting" can mean scattering seeds.

In each theme entry, the first word is taken literally instead of in its usual figurative sense. That shift lets the phrases capture the "verse" setup in the clues.

Across:

1. Be a nuisance: IMPOSE. For 3 or 4 days last week, I didn't get any of your comments in my email box due to a blog glitch.

7. Natters: GABS.

11. Places to kick back: SPAS.

15. Reservoir structure: DAM.

18. Xylophone tool: MALLET.

19. Comic strip unit: PANEL.

20. __ in a blanket: PIGS.

21. JFK fig.: ETA.

24. Lena of "Romeo Is Bleeding": OLIN. Don't know the movie.

25. Good bit of French?: BON. "Good" in French. 

26. Brewer's supply: YEAST.

27. Date tree: PALM. Chinese dates just grow on trees.

28. Penalty kick target: GOAL.

29. Common sacrifice: BUNT.

35. Italian beer brand: PERONI. Named after the founder Francesco Peroni.

38. Sticks together: CLEAVES. Or Splits apart.

39. "Family Matters" nerd: URKEL.

40. Pequod captain: AHAB.

41. Zilch: NIL.

44. Talked privately, for short: DM'e

45. __ Arbor, Michigan: ANN.

50. Inheritance law subjects: ESTATES.

54. Jacked, slangily: SWOLE.

55. With great skill: ABLY.

56. Lower leg fronts: SHINS.

58. Have another go: REDO.

59. Pet in a 51-Down: NEWT. 51. Home for a pet skink: TERRARIUM.

61. Impossibly long stretches: EONS.

63. Dec. 31: NYE.

64. Tiny amount: DRIB.

65. __ tai: MAI.

72. "The Crying Game" actor Stephen: REA. He was married to an IRA bomber. 

73. Cupid counterpart: EROS.

75. Finish off: EAT.

76. Unadorned: BARE.

77. Hindu god: SIVA.

79. Port, e.g.: WINE.

80. __ Canyon National Park: BRYCE. 83. Utah city northeast of 80-Across: MOAB.

85. Pumps (up): FIRES.

88. Final leg: LAST LAP.

93. Bygone space station: MIR. In operation from 1986 to 2001. 

94. Director Kazan: ELIA. Saw his "East of Eden".

95. __ polloi: HOI.

96. Pixar film set by the Ligurian Sea: LUCA. 2021 movie.

97. Massage targets: ACHES.

100. Five-time Emmy winner Laurence: OLIVIER.

103. Seinfeld neighbor: KRAMER.

109. Country where the Amazon originates: PERU.

110. __ tikki: potato patties: ALOO.

111. Taylor-Joy of "Emma": ANYA.

112. Got together: MET UP.

116. Poetic preposition: ERE.

117. Deli side: SLAW.

121. "The Late Great Johnny __": Paul Simon tune: ACE.

122. "That's a __ order": TALL.

123. Inuit craft: UMIAK. They also gave us Kayak.

124. Worked, as clay: MOLDED.

125. Article in a French paper?: LES. Definite article.

126. Bygone organizers, for short: PDAS.

127. Abandon ship: BAIL.

128. Smudges: SMEARS.

Down:

1. "It's possible": I MAY.

2. Sorcerer: MAGE.

3. Court response: PLEA.

4. Carmaker whose last new model was the Alero: OLDSMOBILE.

5. Meat substitute: SEITAN. Made from gluten. We call it mianjin in Chinese.

6. Sci-fi figures: ETS.

7. Cook's clove: GARLIC. And 37. Sliced burger toppings: RAW ONIONS.

8. Cracker shape: ANIMAL.

9. Casino action: BET.

10. Foxy: SLY.

11. Lampooned: SPOOFED.

12. Rice sides: PILAFS.

13. Light on one's feet: AGILE.

14. 1040 fig.: SSN.

15. Put to bed, as a rumor: DEBUNK.

16. En masse: AT ONCE.

17. "The Mirror & the Light" novelist Hilary: MANTEL. The last of the Cromwell trilogy. This is the first one. 

 

19. Pre-Carson host of "The Tonight Show": PAAR.

23. 120-Down's face shields, masks, etc.: Abbr.: PPE. Personal Protective Equipment. And 120. Ambulance crew, briefly: EMS.

28. Hand out, long ago: GIVETH.

29. Saint __: dog breed: BERNARD.

31. Sound that may ring a bell?: TING. Bell sound.

32. Intro, in journalism jargon: LEDE.

33. Curses: DAMNS.

34. Smallest of a litter: RUNT.

35. "No thanks": PASS.

36. DIY help site: eHOW.

42. Nev. neighbor: IDA.

43. New York WNBA team: LIBERTY.

45. Put a value on: ASSESS.

47. Ticker info: NEWS.

48. Food in a trough: SLOP.

49. Bring into alignment: SYNC.

50. Singer born Eithne Pádraigín Ní Bhraonáin: ENYA.  Seal even has a longer name.

52. Falco of "Nurse Jackie": EDIE.

53. Noodles in dashi: SOBA. I like cold soba.

57. At hand: IN REACH.

60. Future lawyer's hurdle, colloquially: THE BAR.

62. Cry loudly: SOB. And 65. Cry softly: MEWL.

66. Opera highlight: ARIA.

68. Senior advocacy group: AARP.

69. Driver's license line: NAME.

70. Walked over: TROD.

71. Little disagreement: TIFF.

74. Prix fixe feature: SET MENU.

78. "Killing Eve" assassin played by Jodie Comer: VILLANELLE. Learning moment for me. This image looks like AI-generated.

81. Patchy cat: CALICO.

82. "Wicked" actress Cynthia: ERIVO.

84. "You stink, ump!": BOO.

86. __ homo: ECCE.

87. Headliner: STAR.

89. Planning aid: LIST.

91. Water source: MAIN.

92. Director Caro of 2020's "Mulan": NIKI. New Zealander. 

94. Tiny predatory birds: ELF OWLS.

97. Post-verdict challenge: APPEAL.

98. Strong-arm: COERCE.

99. People brought on board: HIREES.

100. "Well, look at you!": OO LA LA.

101. Latin "and others": ET ALII.

102. Many a prom tux: RENTAL.

104. "The Hating Game" genre: ROM COM.

106. Food from a bar: SALAD.

107. Stooge's signature laugh: NYUK.

108. Paving gunk: TAR.

113. "That was my trick!": TA DA.

114. __ interface: USER.

115. Advanced postgrad degs.: PHDS.

117. Oil treatment brand: STP.

118. Ursa minor?: CUB. Cute.

119. Thurman of Hollywood: UMA.

C.C.

 

Wednesday, September 17, 2025 Zachary David Levy

div>Theme: Getting Away.  The last word of each two word theme entry is a synonym for departure.

17 A. *Ice cream sundae traditionally served in a boat: BANANA SPLIT.   A classic American ice cream dessert made with a peeled banana split lengthwise, a trio of ice cream scoops, and a variety of toppings, including syrups, nuts, whipped cream, and cherries.   SPLIT also means  to leave a place, or to depart quickly. 

 

40 A. *Salt-free seasoning introduced in 1983: MRS DASH.    A brand of salt-free seasonings introduced in 1983 and marketed by B&G Foods, offering various herb and spice blends to add flavor to food without sodium. The brand dropped the "Mrs." to create a modern identity and emphasize its ability to provide a quick, salt-free flavor boost.  DASH also means to move or run very quickly.

65 A. *Rehearsal: PRACTICE RUN.    A trial, test, or rehearsal performed before a real event, performance, or deployment to ensure it is prepared and functions correctly.   To RUN is to move at a speed faster than a walk, never having both or all the feet on the ground at the same time.

11 D. *Inflatable structure at a kids party: MOON BOUNCE.    An inflatable structure (also known as a bounce house) that children play in at events, named for the bouncing motion that resembles astronauts walking on the moon.   I had BOUNCE HOUSE, which set me back.  In slang, to BOUNCE means to leave or depart from a place, often quickly or abruptly. 

30 D. *Listing of all-time accomplishments: RECORD BOOK.   A compilation of outstanding achievements or best results in a specific field.  In slang,  BOOK means to leave or depart suddenly and quickly, often to hurry or flee.

And the unifier: 73 A. Have the final turn, and what can be found in the answers to the starred clues?: GO LAST.    This is clever construction, a synonym for "go" is in the last part of the fill.  Well played!

Since many of these departures suggest getting away or escaping, here is today's theme song.

Across:

1. Premolar neighbor: CANINE.  A pointed tooth between the incisors and premolars of a mammal, often greatly enlarged in carnivores.

7. Opposite of sans: AVEC.  Without, and with, in French.

11. Bub: MAC.  Dude, bro, bud, guy.

14. Handy: USEFUL.  Able to be used for a practical purpose or in several ways.

15. Indistinct number: SOME.  More than a few, maybe.

16. Lone: ONE.   Alone, solitary, or the only one of its kind.

19. Fertility clinic cells: OVA.   The mature female reproductive cells, or egg cells, which are the gametes produced by a female organism that, upon fertilization by a male gamete (sperm), can develop into a new individual. 

20. Minor dustup: SPAT.   A brief petty quarrel or angry outburst; 

21. Masks and gowns in the OR, e.g.: PPE.  Personal Protective Equipment, worn to minimize exposure to hazards that cause serious workplace injuries and illnesses.

22. Game featuring matches and love: TENNIS.  In tennis, "love" means zero. When a player or team has scored no points, their score is "love," such as "15-love" for 15 points to 0.

24. Organize: ASSORT.  Arrange or order by classes or categories.

27. Money with a double-headed eagle: RUBLE.   The basic monetary unit of Russia and some other former republics of the Soviet Union, equal to 100 kopeks.

28. Before now: EARLIER.  In the recent past.

31. San Antonio landmark: ALAMO.   A fort in San Antonio, Texas, the site of a pivotal siege and massacre in 1836 during the Texas Revolution. 

33. Fast Amtrak train: ACELA.    Amtrak's flagship passenger train service along the Northeast Corridor (NEC) in the Northeastern United States between Washington, D.C. and Boston via 13 intermediate stops, including Baltimore, New York City and Philadelphia. 

34. Pledge drive gift: TOTE.   A large, roomy bag, often open-topped, with parallel handles, used to carry many items. 

36. __ mail: BULK.    A method of sending large volumes of mail at reduced rates, either as part of a marketing or communication campaign or as physical mail sent by an organization. 

39. Brief moment in time?: SEC.  One second, a 60th on a minute.

43. Highland rejection: NAE.    The Scottish word for "no" or "not", 

44. Walked heavily: TROD.  Stomped.

46. "I'm standing right here": AHEM.  The clearing of one's throat.  I can see the connection to the clue, but am not fond of it in a puzzle.

47. Footnote abbr.: OP CIT.  An abbreviation of the Latin phrase opus citatum or opere citato, meaning "the work cited" or in the cited work, respectively.

49. Riding event: RODEO.    An exhibition or contest in which cowboys show their skill at riding broncos, roping calves, wrestling steers, etc.

51. Become familiar with: INURE TO.  Accustom someone to something, especially something unpleasant.

53. "The Princess Bride" co-star __ the Giant: ANDRE.   André René Roussimoff (19 May 1946 – 28 January 1993), better known by his ring name André the Giant, was a French professional wrestler and actor. Dubbed "the Eighth Wonder of the World", Roussimoff was known for his great size, which was a result of gigantism caused by excess human growth hormone.

55. Leonard who wrote "Get Shorty": ELMORE.  Elmore John Leonard Jr. (October 11, 1925 – August 20, 2013) was an American novelist, short story author and screenwriter. He was, according to British journalist Anthony Lane, "hailed as one of the best crime writers in the land". His earliest novels, published in the 1950s, were Westerns, but he went on to specialize in crime fiction and suspense thrillers, many of which have been adapted into motion pictures. 

57. Jewish mystical doctrine: CABALA.   The ancient Jewish tradition of mystical interpretation of the Bible, first transmitted orally and using esoteric methods (including ciphers). It reached the height of its influence in the later Middle Ages and remains significant in Hasidism.

59. Energy bar grain: OAT.   A species of cereal grain grown for its seed, which is known by the same name (usually in the plural). Oats appear to have been domesticated as a secondary crop, as their seeds resembled those of other cereals closely enough for them to be included by early cultivators. 

60. Named names: SANG.    Confessed, especially under interrogation, or acted as an informer.   Here, the latter is indicated.

64. GI show gp.: USO.   The United Service Organizations (USO) show, a popular form of entertainment for troops.

68. Eastern "way": TAO.  In Chinese philosophy, the absolute principle underlying the universe, combining within itself the principles of yin and yang and signifying the way, or code of behavior, that is in harmony with the natural order. 

69. Above the strike zone: HIGH. The baseball strike zone is an invisible area over home plate, extending from the midpoint between a batter's shoulders and the top of their uniform pants, down to just below the kneecaps, when the batter is in their stance and ready to swing. A pitch outside the strike zone is called a ball.  

70. Nabe in lower Manhattan: NOLITA.   Derived from "Northern Little Italy", Nolita is situated in Lower Manhattan, bounded on the north by Houston Street, on the east by the Bowery, on the south roughly by Broome Street, and on the west by Lafayette Street.[4] It lies east of SoHo, south of NoHo, west of the Lower East Side, and north of Little Italy and Chinatown.

71. Antlered buglers: ELK.    The second largest species within the deer family, Cervidae, and one of the largest terrestrial mammals in its native range of North America and Central and East Asia. The word "elk" originally referred to the European variety of the moose, Alces alces, but was transferred to Cervus canadensis by North American colonists.

72. Pi Day follower: IDES.  Pi day is 3/14, representing the first 3 digits of the number π, 3.14; and the IDES is 3/15, a day falling roughly in the middle of each month.

Down:

1. Windy City team: CUBS.  The Chicago Cubs are currently in 2nd place in the National League Central Division of Major League Baseball.

2. Urgent letters: ASAP.  As Soon As Possible.

3. "99 Luftballons" singer: NENA.  Gabriele Susanne Kerner (born 24 March 1960), better known by her stage name Nena, is a German singer who rose to international fame in 1983 as the lead vocalist of the band Nena with the Neue Deutsche Welle song "99 Luftballons". In that same year, the band re-recorded this song in English as "99 Red Balloons".

And here is the English language version.

4. "Maybe not even that": IF AT ALL.    It indicates that something is unlikely to happen, or rarely happens, and that it will occur in a negative or restricted way if it does happen. 

5. Convent member: NUN.   A member of a religious community of women, especially a cloistered one, living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

6. Go by: ELAPSE.    Of time: to slip or pass by. 

7. In accordance with: AS PER.   A formal phrase that means "in accordance with" or "according to". 

8. Up/down arrows on a remote: Abbr.: VOLume.  Controlling the loudness of the broadcast medium.

9. Send off: EMIT.   Produce and discharge something, especially a sound, gas or radiation.

10. Peter of Chicago: CETERA.   Peter Paul Cetera Jr. is a retired American singer, songwriter, bassist, and producer. He's best known as a founding member of the rock band Chicago, where he played bass and sang lead vocals from 1967 to 1985. Cetera recorded 17 albums with Chicago and launched a successful solo career with eight studio albums. 

12. Middle ear bone: ANVIL.  The middle ear contains three small bones called the ossicles. These bones are: Malleus (hammer): Attached to the eardrum.  Incus (anvil): Connected to the malleus and stapes.  Stapes (stirrup): Attached to the oval window, which leads to the inner ear.   The ossicles amplify and transmit sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear. They play a crucial role in hearing.

13. Discontinue: CEASE.  Stop!

18. Adidas offering: SPORT SHOE.    Footwear designed for physical activity, such as running, playing basketball, or exercising, and comes in various types like running shoes, tennis shoes, and cross-trainers. 

23. Not really feeling it?: NUMB.   Deprived of the power of sensation.

25. Thailand, once: SIAM.  A country in Southeast Asia that was known as Siam for centuries before being renamed Thailand in the late 1930s. The name Siam is an exonym, a term used by outsiders, and also refers to several historical kingdoms and the ethnic group that later became known as the Thais. 

26. Flooring in a ryokan: TATAMI MAT.   A traditional Japanese flooring or sleeping surface made of woven rush grass over a compressed rice straw core, known for its natural insulation, moisture-absorbing properties, and a firm yet yielding surface. 

28. Sunrise locale: EAST.   The direction toward the point of the horizon where the sun rises at the equinoxes, on the right-hand side of a person facing north, or the point on the horizon itself.

29. Taiwanese tech giant: ACER.    A Taiwanese multinational computer hardware and electronics company known for its laptops, desktops, monitors, and gaming systems like the Predator brand.

32. French article: LES.   A plural form of the definite article "the" with any plural noun, regardless of gender, when referring to specific or general items.

35. "__ of Girls' Things": poem by Sharon Olds: ODE.   Sharon Olds (born November 19, 1942) is an American poet. She won the first San Francisco Poetry Center Award in 1980, the 1984 National Book Critics Circle Award, and the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.She teaches creative writing at New York University and is a previous director of the Creative Writing Program at NYU.  Her poem can be found here.

37. Café addition: LAIT.   French milk.

38. Fat-heavy diet: KETO.   A high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that aims to put the body into a metabolic state called ketosis. In ketosis, the body burns fat for energy instead of carbohydrates. 

41. Issa of "Insecure": RAE.  Jo-Issa Rae Diop is an award-winning actress, writer, producer, director, and web series creator. She first gained recognition for her 2011 YouTube series Awkward Black Girl, which she also wrote and starred in. Rae is perhaps best known for her role in the HBO show Insecure, which she co-created, co-wrote, and starred in from 2016 to 2021. She has received multiple Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for her work on the show. 

42. Time division: HOUR.  A unit of time equal to 60 minutes or 3,600 seconds, representing one-twenty-fourth of a day. 

45. Cartoon explorer: DORA.  Dora the Explorer is an American children's animated television series in the Dora the Explorer franchise, created by Chris Gifford, Valerie Walsh Valdes, and Eric Weiner that premiered on Nickelodeon on August 14, 2000, and ended on August 9, 2019. The series was produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studio.

48. Make available ahead of time: PRE-SELL.    To market and sell a product or service before it is fully manufactured, constructed, or completed, allowing businesses to validate demand, fund production, and build excitement with customers who commit to buying in advance. 

50. Oracle site: DELPHI.   The Oracle at Delphi was the most renowned prophetic institution in ancient Greece, featuring a priestess known as the Pythia who delivered prophecies from the god Apollo, often through ambiguous answers to questions from seekers across the Greek world. 

52. Observing: NOTING.   Noticing or perceiving something and registering it as being significant.

53. Between zero and 90 degrees: ACUTE.  Said of any angle so described.

Angling

54. Congested, perhaps: NASAL.  Said of a condition possibly affecting one's voice or breathing.

56. Scottish bodies of water: LOCHS.  Lakes or sea inlets.

58. Extremely dry: ARID.  Long time no sea.

61. Solo at the Met: ARIA.  A long accompanied song for a solo voice, typically one in an opera or oratorio.

62. 17-Across topper: NUTS.   A nut is a fruit consisting of hard or tough shell around an edible kernel.  The kernel is sometimes crushed and used as desert garnish.

63. Buzzer in a cloud: GNAT.   A small two-winged fly that resembles a mosquito. Gnats include both biting and nonbiting forms, and they typically form large swarms.

66. Mature: AGE.    Develop a desirable quality through a period of time,

67. Talk sweetly: COO.    To make a soft, murmuring sound, like that of a dove or pigeon, or to speak in a soft, quiet voice to express affection. 

And so we bring another Wednesday to an affectionate close.  Now it's time to get away.

Coo regards!

JzB