Theme: GAME CHANGER
(60A. Ump's controversial call, perhaps ... and a hint to this puzzle's
circles) - Each theme answer contains an anagram of a game.
17A. Literally, "Ireland forever" : ERIN GO BRAGH. Bingo.
24A. Accident investigation site : CRASH SCENE. Chess.
37A. Gently towels off : PATS DRY. Darts.
51A. Eavesdrop : LISTEN IN ON. Tennis.
Boomer
here. It's true an ump may change an outcome of a game. But here in
warm and windy Minnesota it's time for me to park the GLOWIN' Balls in
the garage and get the clubs out to the great outdoors. I just finished
a successful spring league with most games over 200, and now I'll FLOG
the links with most scores over 100. If the averages ever meet it will
be time to quit both games I fear.
Across:
1. Hubby's "better half" : THE MRS I think you need to be William Frawley's age to use this term.
7. Metaphorical china shop culprit : BULL - Yeah, I've heard of the china shop but I use this half a word to define lies.
11. Rest area? : SPA
14. Bring to light : REVEAL
15. "That makes sense" : I SEE
16. __ paper : WAX - NEWS and TERM were too many letters
19. Swelling reducer : ICE - covers all of our 10,000 lakes every winter
20. Pie __ mode : A LA
21. Figured out : GOT - there seems to be an abundance of three letter words in this puz.
22. Ward off : REPEL - Cutter's works good on mosquitoes
28. Vacuums, say : CLEANS
30. Meteorological light shows : AURORAS - They come along once in a while. I always seem to miss the display.
33. Ill-mannered : CRASS - Crass, Cross - Same ol'
34. You might get a bad one in the rough : LIE - see my FLOG comment above.
35. Cosmetic surg. option : LIPO This is half a word.
36. Leia's love : HAN - Was "Star Wars" an AURORA ??
41. Safari beast : GNU - You need a GUN to kill a GNU
42. Equal : EVEN - Pass line bet at the craps table
44. Protective housing : POD- Moving companies will drop them in your driveway. You load, they haul.
45. Survey choice : OTHER - I hate surveys. They should pay for your time.
47. Need for a return, usually : RECEIPT
49. Crazy Horse, for one : LAKOTA - Well known Native American organization in Chamberlain, SD.
53. Speed skater Ohno : APOLO - Surprise! I remember his performance in the Olympics. Always thought there were two "L"s in his name. Often wonder if competitors jived him with his surname.
55. Put a stop to : END
56. Sound from a toy : YAP - I have no yapping toys. Maybe from a Toy Poodle ?
59. Possesses : HAS
65. Imitate : APE
66. Commentary piece : OP-ED -short for opinion/editorial. We have way too many in this country.
67. Eight-time Best Actor Oscar nominee who never won : O'TOOLE - Probably most famous as Lawrence of Arabia.
68. Unfavorable : BAD
69. Sundae crunch providers : NUTS - I am STUNNED by this clue.
70. Squeezed (in) : WEDGED - Or one of those goofy FLOG shots - Jordan Spieth made from the bunker in the playoff.
Down:
1. Uno e due : TRE - I don't comment on foreign words.
2. Wife of Zeus : HERA - Would this not be Zeus' better half?
3. "See no __ ... " : EVIL - You may see it LIVE and in person.
4. Endangers : MENACES - Mr. Wilson's bane
5. Word after dust or do : RAG- Clean oil from your bowling ball.
6. "America Runs on Dunkin'," e.g. : SLOGAN
7. Beginning : BIRTH
8. "Born in the __" : USA - Last Sunday in the Travelers FLOG tournament, the crowd was yelling "BOO S A" for PGA player Weekley.
9. Stocking stuffer? : LEG - SANTA had too many letters
10. MacNeil's longtime co-host : LEHRER (Jim). Robert MacNeil.
11. Unlock a cellphone screen, perhaps : SWIPE RIGHT - Since my cell is an old style flip phone, I have no idea what this means.
12. Show anxiety, in a way : PACE - In Massachusetts, you must pick up the PACE if you are running around the CAPE.
13. Skater's maneuver : AXEL - This is a goofy skating leap named after a Norwegian named Axel. Someday I may have a 7-10 split named after me?
18. Head honcho : BOSS
23. Carbon compound : ENOL - Would this be the LONE element in Carbon?
25. Sign of a sore throat : RASP - Your FLOG opponent may lose his voice after your string of PARS.
26. Expressed : SAID
27. Stage coach? : CUER - If the CUER is sick, you may need a doctor to CURE him before the
show.
28. Hunger for : CRAVE
29. Sign of an impending merger? : LANE CLOSED - We have a lot of this going on here in Minneapolis. I am sure other cities as well. Our four seasons are Fall, Winter, Spring and under construction.
31. Sleep problem from the Greek for "absence of breathing" : APNEA
32. Like lemons, e.g. : SOUR
33. Chaz Bono's mom : CHER - Sonny's better half in the sixties.
34. "Dropped" '60s drug : LSD - Speaking of the sixties "LBJ took the IRT through the USA, and
what did he see? The youth of America on LSD"
38. Date with the doc : APPT
39. Roomy bag : TOTE
40. Musician Ono : YOKO - John Lennon's better half, of course
43. Diamond of song : NEIL - One of my favorites was "Song, Sung, Blue". Johnny Cash sung "I walk the LINE".
46. Broadway performer's recognition : TONY NOD
48. Equiangular geometric figure : ISOGON - This looks like a Made up word or acronym.
49. "The Mod Squad" member : LINC
50. "You said it!" : AND HOW - And how are you doing on this puzzle ?
52. Food and shelter, for two : NEEDS
53. Pequod captain : AHAB-or the ARAB, the sheik of the burning sand!
54. Rollin' stone, in a Motown classic : PAPA
57. Enthralled : AGOG
58. Brazilian soccer hero : PELE - One of the original soccer player millionaire icons. I am sure he could PEEL hundreds from his bankroll.
61. "The Simpsons" storekeeper : APU
62. Fulfilled, as a deadline : MET - Also the Big Apple Citi field player.
63. Wolfed down : ATE - Ate lunch and then relaxed with TEA.
64. Embarrassed : RED - Cincinnati Great American Ballpark player.
Boomer
