Theme: ESPYS (69. Annual athletic achievement awards, and a
phonetic hint to 17-, 27-, 47- and 61-Across) - Each theme answer has a
S* P* pattern.
17. The orange one is often called a yam: SWEET POTATO.
47. Behind-the-scenes investor: SILENT PARTNER.
61. Group looking for a missing person: SEARCH PARTY.
Boomer here. This looks like a Swell Puzzle. I am sure that our neighbors in Saint Paul will like it.
Across:
11. Baseball's Ripken: CAL. I have dozens and dozens of his baseball cards. I put together a stack of ten for eBay.
14. Fizzy mixers: SODAS. I am sold on Diet Pepsi and Canada Dry Ginger ale. But I do not mix it with anything anymore.
15. Whirlybird part: ROTOR.
16. Ike's WWII arena: ETO. Yup, the European Theater of
Operations - Dwight Eisenhower's command. He did so well we elected him
President for eight years.
19. Court of __: LAW. Where Jack McCoy takes over. I watch too much TV.
20. Beach souvenirs: TANS. We used to get these on the golf course.
21. Golf ball position: LIE. Also a way to lower your golf score.
22. Complete: ENTIRE.
24. Words with mode or carte: A LA. Southern state with a low percentage of vaccinations.
26. Stylish suits: ARMANIS.
32. Many a stray pooch: CUR.
33. Nonetheless: STILL. "Though you broke my heart, STILL, though we're far apart." Bill Anderson.
34. Art class subjects: NUDES.
37. "T" on a test: TRUE. Some of my tests were "F".
39. Blunted fencing blades: EPEES.
41. Carpet thickness: PILE. I have been going through PILES of Baseball cards.
42. "There you have it!": VOILA. Always reminds me of Frank Viola of the Twins. I think I have some of his cards.
44. "Fame" singer Cara: IRENE. "Good night IRENE, Good night IRENE, I'll see you in my dreams."
46. World Cup cheer: OLE. Sven's buddy and boy do I have those jokes.
50. Business event using Zoom, perhaps: MEETING. I had a lot of MEETINGS, but never on ZOOM.
52. La Brea goo: TAR. We had a MEETING with the Association last month and it sounds like we may be getting a new driveway soon, also a big bill.
53. Trouser measure: INSEAM. I think I am still a 34. I've been wearing shorts all summer.
54. D.C. fundraising group: PAC.
56. Like much tea in summer: ICED. It's pretty good but I'll stick with Diet Pepsi for now.
60. Cry from Homer: DOH. I never got into the Simpsons.
64. MSNBC co-anchor __ Velshi: ALI. I cannot know if he shaved his head or just lost his hair.
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65. German industrial city: ESSEN.
66. Words of defeat: I LOSE.
67. Syrup source: SAP.
68. Tremble: SHAKE. Rattle and Roll!
Down:
2. Des Moines' state: IOWA. Our neighbor to the south. C.C. and I traveled there while I was working as I had to visit Graybar in Des Moines.
3. Starter home for Adam and Eve?: EDEN. Minnesota has an EDEN Prairie. Adam and Eve never lived there but Vikings' Bud Grant does.
4. Salad variety: CAESAR. "How many eggs did you have for breakfast CAESAR ??"
"Et Tu Brute"
5. Superlative ending: EST.
6. Picard's counselor: TROI.
7. Mechanical learning method: ROTE. I remember we used to learn music by ROTE.
8. LAX posting: ETA. Estimated Time of Arrival, and they do mean Estimated.
9. People filling out ballots: VOTERS. C.C. and I voted by mail last year. It seemed better than standing in line for two hours at a local church.
10. Ripken nickname based on his durability: IRON MAN. He played
in 2632 games in a row. The previous record was held by Lou Gehrig at
2130. I have many Cal Ripken baseball cards but only one of Lou Gehrig,
and it's not an original.
11. Canadian-born singer with the 2019 album "Courage": CELINE DION.
12. Gaming pioneer: ATARI. Played these games many times.
13. The Home Depot competitor: LOWE'S. We have both stores in our area. I have to admit that Home Depot has gotten more money from us than Lowe's.
18. Nebraska river: PLATTE.
23. Prepare to score from third, say: TAG UP. Only on a long fly ball.
25. French article: LES.
26. Out for the night: ASLEEP. Happens every night.
27. Old Canadian skit show: SCTV.
28. Italian money: EURO. I purchased some EUROs on eBay once but I think I sold them at a flea market for a loss.
29. Vacation vessel: CRUISESHIP. We have never taken a cruise on one of these monsters. It seems they were Covid carriers a couple of years ago.
30. __ hot: steaming: PIPING.
31. On the lookout: ALERT.
35. Fashion monthly: ELLE.
36. Visionary: SEER.
38. Cream of the crop: ELITE. I used to be an ELITE bowler, Now I am only LITE.
40. Grab quickly: SNATCH.
43. Assumed names: ALIASES. Smith and Jones?
45. Pitcher's stat: ERA. Most of our Twins are over 6.00.
48. Catch in a net: ENMESH.
49. "All Rise" procedures: TRIALS. "All my TRIALS Lord, Soon be over". Peter, Paul, and Mary and others.
50. Golden-touch king: MIDAS. I went there once for a brake job. Never again.
51. __ Gay: WWII bomber: ENOLA. A famous WWII bomber. The name came from the pilot's Mother.
54. Educ. for tots: PRE-K.
55. Teen's bane: ACNE.
57. Field yield: CROP. We have some beans and cucumbers planted. I guess we might get what the squirrels did not ruin.
58. Craftsy etailer: ETSY.
59. Hair salon colors: DYES. I am a natural Minnesota Swede Blonde. Maybe it has a little gray mixed in but I'll never tell.
62. Clean __ whistle: AS A. My Great, Great grandfather is ASA
Hutchinson of the Hutchinson family singers. They founded Hutchinson
Minnesota about 150 years ago. I once wrote to ASA Hutchinson, the
governor of Arkansas with the story. I thought we might be related but
he said no. However he once visited Minnesota and Congressman Eric
Paulsen took him out to Hutchinson. ASA wrote me a nice letter in
response.
63. Dessert pastry: PIE.
Boomer
