Volleyball terms. I learned only recently that Beach Volleyball is an NCAA sport. The LSU Women's team has done well in the tournmaments. No tournaments this year, however.
The first word of each theme answer is a Volleyball term. [NOTE: I know virtually nothing about Volleyball and how it's played. The definitions I used, and other volleyball terms, can be found at the link I included at the end of the introduction. Apparently, there is more than meets the eye to today's theme. If you know what it is, please let me know in the comment section.]
17-Across. * Bring dinner to diners, say: SERVE A MEAL. Serve: One of the six basic skills; used to put the ball into play. It is the only skill controlled exclusively by one player.
24-Across. * Discover incriminating information: DIG UP DIRT. Dig: Passing a spiked or rapidly hit ball. Slang for the art of passing an attacked ball close to the floor.
39-Across. * Band's cheat sheet: SET LIST. Set: The tactical skill in which a ball is directed to a point where a player can spike it into the opponent’s court
50-Across. * Stiletto on a shoe: SPIKE HEEL. Spike: Hit or attack. A ball contacted with force by a player on the offensive team who intends to terminate the ball on the opponent’s floor or off the opponent’s blocker.
And the Unifier:
62-Across. Sport that involves the moves that start the answers to starred clues: VOLLEYBALL.
For a comprehensive list of Volleyball terms, check out this site.
The first word of each theme answer is a Volleyball term. [NOTE: I know virtually nothing about Volleyball and how it's played. The definitions I used, and other volleyball terms, can be found at the link I included at the end of the introduction. Apparently, there is more than meets the eye to today's theme. If you know what it is, please let me know in the comment section.]
17-Across. * Bring dinner to diners, say: SERVE A MEAL. Serve: One of the six basic skills; used to put the ball into play. It is the only skill controlled exclusively by one player.
24-Across. * Discover incriminating information: DIG UP DIRT. Dig: Passing a spiked or rapidly hit ball. Slang for the art of passing an attacked ball close to the floor.
39-Across. * Band's cheat sheet: SET LIST. Set: The tactical skill in which a ball is directed to a point where a player can spike it into the opponent’s court
50-Across. * Stiletto on a shoe: SPIKE HEEL. Spike: Hit or attack. A ball contacted with force by a player on the offensive team who intends to terminate the ball on the opponent’s floor or off the opponent’s blocker.
And the Unifier:
62-Across. Sport that involves the moves that start the answers to starred clues: VOLLEYBALL.
For a comprehensive list of Volleyball terms, check out this site.
Across:
1. Give kudos to: LAUD.
5. Trudge through water: SLOSH.
10. News piece: ITEM.
14. Marriott alternative: OMNI. This is becoming a crossword staple.
15. Cake instruction Alice followed: EAT ME.
16. Empty-truck weight: TARE.
19. Gumbo pod: OKRA. This is becoming a crossword staple. Fried okra is actually quite tasty.
20. Villainous expressions: SNEERS.
21. Jamaican export: RUM. Yo-ho-ho and a Bottle of Rum.
22. Revolutionary Trotsky: LEON. Leon Trotsky (né Lev Davidovich Bronstein; Nov. 7, 1879 ~ Aug. 21, 1940) was a Russian revolutionary and a leader in the Russian October Revolution of of 1917. He was later clashed with Joseph Stalin and was forced into exile. He ultimately landed in Mexico where he was assassinated at age 60 almost exactly 80 years ago.
23. To and __: FRO.
26. Not yet resolved: AT ISSUE.
29. Yorkie, size-wise: TOY.
30. Sans accomplices: LONE.
31. Work on punches: SPAR.
34. Buffalo hockey pro: SABRE. The hockey team.
38. ID checker's concern: AGE.
41. Schlep: LUG. Schlep: From the Yiddish: שלעפּ,
42. "Sorry to say ... ": SADLY. // Which crossed with 26-Down. "Sorry to say ... ": ALAS.
44. Apiary unit: HIVE.
45. Yao of hoops fame: MING. Yao Ming (b. Sept. 12, 1980), played professional basketball with the Houston Rockets. He is 7 ft. 6 in., tall.
46. Connections: INs.
48. Storefront covers: AWNINGS.
55. "Not only that ... ": AND.
56. Put to work: HIRE.
57. "__ let you know": I'LL. Meaning: The answer is "no", but I don't want to tell you that now.
58. Stream crosser: BRIDGE.
61. Word in a hot day simile: OVEN. It's so hot, I can bake cookies in my ...
64. Speech quality: TONE.
65. Olympic blades: ÉPÉEs. A crossword staple.
I hope those aren't blood spots!
66. Molecule component: ATOM.
67. Hearty bowlful: STEW.
68. Tenant payments: RENTS.
69. Credit union seizure, briefly: REPO. Repo Man was a 1984 film that starred Emilio Estavez and Harry Dean Stanton. I saw it when it first came out and thought it was very funny. I haven't seen it since, so don't know if it has stood the test of time.
Down:
1. Fiscal disappointment: LOSS.
2. "Couldn't agree more!": AMEN!
3. Like crude oil: UNREFINED.
4. Not at all homogeneous: DIVERSE.
5. Black and Red: SEAs. I have been to both. Some of the best snorkeling I have experienced was in the Red Sea off the Sinai Peninsula. The Black Sea borders on Turkey. The Red Sea is between Egypt and Saudi Arabia on the map below.
6. Run for it: LAM.
7. "SNL" alum Cheri: OTERI. We haven't seen Cheri Oteri (née Cheyl Ann Oteri; b. Sept. 19, 1962) in quite a while. She makes regular guest appearances in the crossword.
8. Dragon in "The Hobbit": SMAUG. I have tried reading The Hobbit, but just couldn't get into it, so I didn't know the name of the Dragon.
9. __ Kohl, first chancellor of reunified Germany: HELMUT. Before the reunification of Germany, Helmut Kohl (né Helmut Joseph Michael Kohl; Apr. 3, 1930 ~ June 16, 2017) was the chancellor of West Germany.
10. "Listen to me next time!": IT OLD YA!
11. "Star Trek" actor George: TAKEI. George Takei (né Hosato Takei; b. Apr. 20, 1937) was born in Los Angeles, California. He wrote a graphic novel entitled They Called Us Enemy, about his life in an internment camp during World War II.
12. Fielder's fluff: ERROR. A baseball reference.
13. Should have said: MEANT.
18. God of love: EROS.
24. Pool diver's concern: DEPTH.
25. Fence support: POST.
27. Forum garment: TOGA. Another crossword staple.
28. Purpose: USE.
32. Oscar winner Mahershala: ALI. Mahershala Ali (né Mahershalalhashbaz Gilmore; b. Feb. 16, 1974) is such a good actor. He won two Oscars (Best Supporting Actor): one in Moonlight (2016) and the other in Green List (2018).
33. Adversary: RIVAL.
35. Sight-unseen encounter: BLIND DATE.
36. Ladder part: RUNG.
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| Anatomy of a Ladder |
37. Incubator contents: EGGS.
39. Last word in the first song of the year: SYNE. And I thought it was Happy New Year!
Should Old Acquaintance be forgot,
and never thought upon;
The flames of Love extinguished,
and fully past and gone:
Is thy sweet Heart now grown so cold,
that loving Breast of thine;
That thou canst never once reflect
On old long syne.
40. Suture, say: SEW.
43. Showing no wear: LIKE NEW.
45. Pay-for-what-you-use hotel feature: MINI BAR.
47. React to cold: SHIVER. For day's when it is not as Hot as an Oven.
49. __ a one: zero: NARY.
50. Annual pet checkup components: SHOTS.
51. Turn on a shaft: PIVOT.
52. Cara of "Fame": IRENE. Irene Cara (née Irene Cara Escalera; b. Mar. 18, 1959) is probably best known for writing and singing the songs from Flashdance.
53. Marry on the fly: ELOPE.
54. DeGeneres who voices Dory: ELLEN. Ellen DeGeneres (née Ellen Lee DeGeneres; b. Jan. 26, 1958), has been in the news recently but not for good reasons. She was born in Metairie, Louisiana, which is just outside of New Orleans.
58. Gershwin heroine: BESS. A reference to George Gershwin's opera Porgy and Bess.
59. Unsavory stuff: GLOP.
60. Saint with a fire: ELMO. Also the name of a 1985 movie.
63. Tennis do-over: LET.
Here's the Grid:
Stay Positive, but test Negative!
Stay Positive, but test Negative!
