Theme: blank Team - Echo of Sunday. The first word can precede TEAM.
61A. Players on the same side ... and what the starts of the answers to starred clues can be: TEAMMATES
17A. *Track event with batons: RELAY RACE. Relay team, to run the race.
25A. *Romantic outing for four: DOUBLE DATE. Double team, basketball term.
36A. *Romantic ideal: DREAM GIRL. Dream team.
51A. *Machinist's hole maker: DRILL PRESS. Drill team, marching in formations.
Argyle here, part of the blog team. Impressive sides to the puzzle.
Across:
1. Show affection to, as a dog: PET
4. Barton of the Red Cross: CLARA
9. The Congo, formerly: ZAIRE
14. Martinique, par exemple: ILE. I think Kurt wants to go away on vacation. But who doesn't?
15. Archaeological find: RELIC
16. Bother: ANNOY
19. Night, in Naples: NOTTE
20. Congregational "Absolutely!": "AMEN!"
21. "__ beaucoup": MERCI. "Thank you very much"
23. Lab rodent: RAT
24. Schoolbook, or much of its contents: TEXT
27. "Romanian Rhapsodies" composer: ENESCO. George Enescu. Vlad Vizireanu, Romanian conductor.
29. Wears away: ERODES
30. John, Paul and George: Abbr.: STs. (Saints)
31. Under-the-sink fitting: P-TRAP
35. For fear that: LEST
39. Farmland measure: ACRE
42. Steinway or Yamaha: PIANO
43. Crone: HAG
46. Yellow Teletubby: LAA-LAA
49. Meditative music genre: NEW AGE
55. Ache: HURT
56. Announcer Hall: EDD. He was Jay Leno's announcer on The Tonight Show.
57. Use a loom: WEAVE
58. What aces may count as: ONEs or elevens.
59. Black, in Burgundy: NOIRE. France.
64. Hues: TONES
65. The "I" in IV: INTRA
66. High season on the Riviera: ÉTÉ. Busy time on the beach.
67. Grain disease: ERGOT
68. Ruby Dee's husband Davis: OSSIE
69. Period, e.g.: DOT
Down:
1. High seas bandits: PIRATES
2. Periodic table listing: ELEMENT
3. Fax forerunners: TELEXES
4. Bawl: CRY
5. The Once-__: "The Lorax" character: LER
6. Mission to remember: ALAMO
7. Houston sch.: RICE U.
8. Biting, as criticism: ACERB
9. More wacky: ZANIER
10. Period with 365 días: ANO
11. For services rendered instead of cash: IN TRADE. (stop snickering!)
12. Revolves: ROTATES
13. Driver's license requirement: EYE TEST
18. Aardvark fare: ANTS
22. The NFL's Browns, on sports tickers: CLE. (Cleveland Browns)
25. Pour affection (on): DOTE
26. Sweetie pie: DOLL
28. EMT procedure: CPR. Emergency Medical Technician/CardioPulmonary Resuscitation
32. Knock hard: RAP
33. Parisian pal: AMI. Might be your dream girl you'll meet on vacation.
34. Ryder Cup org.: PGA. The Ryder Cup is a biennial men's golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States.
36. Big name in computers: DELL
37. Holiday and Days: INNs
38. Caviar: ROE
39. Firm, as pasta: AL DENTE
40. It's usually locked after parking: CAR DOOR
41. Attacking, as the fridge: RAIDING
43. Full of ghosts: HAUNTED
44. Go along with: AGREE TO
45. Prepares: GETS SET
47. L.A. Angels' division: AL WEST. Baseball.
48. Big galoot: APE
50. Stagecoach driver's "Stop!": "WHOA!"
52. 4:1, e.g.: RATIO
53. Alternative to odds: EVENS
54. Theater chairs: SEATS
60. Classic car: REO
62. CAT scan cousin: MRI. (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
63. Fannie or Ginnie follower: MAE. (Mortgage Association)
Argyle
