SWISH! Or Nothin' but Net!
Another slam dunk from Erik Agard!
While "hat trick" is not used, basketball has other milestones based on the number three or achieving three feats:
- The Triple-Double: Getting double-digit numbers in three out of five categories (points, rebounds, assists, blocks, steals) in a single game.
- Three-Peat: Winning three championship titles in a row.
- Three-Pointer: Scoring a field goal from beyond the three-point arc.
The Reveal:
53 Across. Distance shot in basketball, or what 16-, 26-, and 39-Across are altogether?: LOGO THREE.
A logo 3 in basketball is a three-pointer shot taken from extreme range, specifically at or near the mid-court center circle where the teams floor logo is painted.
How is this represented in the 3 themers you ask? Why, it's simple! The first word of each begins with LO, and the last word begins with GO. Coming up with a new and fresh theme after more than 100 years of crossword puzzles is a long shot, I just didn't expect Erik to do it literally!
16 Across. "I like it!": LOOKS GOOD. (Like a long shot that goes "swish.")
26 Across. Bucket list item, perhaps: LONG TIME GOAL. (Long air time that is...)
39 Across. Not rigid: LOOSEY-GOOSEY. (Absolutely necessary to make those long shots....)
Let's see if there is anything in the fill that could block our shot at this theme...
1. Succeed in a class: PASS. (Or succeed in basketball, don't hog the ball...)
5. With 47-Down, tropical shade providers: PALM.
9. Content warning letters: NSFW. Not Suitable For Work.
13. Two-tone apex predator: ORCA.
Pass me the ball!
14. Inventor's jumping-off point: IDEA.
15. Underwater detector: SONAR.
16. [Theme]
18. Location: PLACE.
19. Out like a light: ASLEEP.
20. Vintner's harvest: GRAPES.
21. Top stripe of a pride flag: RED.
Hmm, not always red...
22. Lousy grade: DEE. (I always wait, could be C or F...)
24. "Gosh!": GEE.
25. Channel with music videos and "Reba" reruns: CMT. Country Music Television.
26. [Theme]
29. Statistical average: MEAN.
There ya go, now it's about s clear as mud...
31. Jokes: GAGS. (I never joke about statistical averages...)
32. Cunning plan: RUSE.
Not really a ruse, but I couldn't resist..
33. "A Change Is __ Come": GONNA. The sad history behind this song can be found here.
34. Victor Wembanyama's org.: NBA. (Is this a Clecho?)
35. Features of 4c hair: KINKS. Ten hairstyles Suitable for type 4c hair.
36. A single time: ONCE.
37. Plant anchor: ROOT.
38. CPR pros: EMTS. (Crossword staple.)
39. [Theme]
42. Seasonal vaccine target: FLU.
43. Some undergrad degs.: BAS. Bachelor of Arts degrees.
44. Fleeting snooze: NAP.
45. Pvt. trainer: SGT.
48. Chicken __ bleu: CORDON. If you ever get tired of making chicken salad from your leftover chicken:
TRY THIS!
50. Throw trash away, but not in a trash can: LITTER. (Please dont...)
52. An additional time: AGAIN.
53. [Theme Reveal.]
56. Sport with scrums: RUGBY. This may be difficult for Americans unfamiliar with the game to comprehend, but it is a way to restart play fairly after a minor infraction.
Can you predict what side will regain control of the ball?
57. Component of steel: IRON.
58. Lack of difficulty: EASE.
59. Simple tops: TEES.
60. Domestic four-leggers: PETS.
61. "Their __ Were Watching God": EYES. Tough one if you don't know luckily 4 perps to the rescue...
Down:
1. Big name in seltzer water: POLAR. Tough one, as not really seen in my area. And now with the hard seltzer market, Polar gets lost in the crowd.
3. Give a talking-to: SCOLD.
4. "For goodness' __!": SAKE.
5. Animal enclosure with a namesake cipher: PIGPEN. The Wiki Explanation.
6. "And now, without further __ ... ": ADO.
7. Sign before Virgo: LEO.
8. Ticked off: MAD.
9. Mardi Gras city, familiarly: NOLA. New Orleans.
10. Signals called by a quarterback before each play: SNAP COUNT.
11. Protections against respiratory illnesses: FACE MASKS.
12. Competes on a mat: WRESTLES.
15. Shopping jag: SPREE.
17. Arizona city near the Seven Sacred Pools: SEDONA.
17 minutes worth of sightseeing.
20. Precious stones: GEMS.
23. Creamy Christmas concoctions: EGGNOGS.
24. Huge unit of mass: GIGATON. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
26. Pool divisions: LANES.
27. Like a dirty word: TABOO. I dunno.. (see below.)
28. Dirty: GRIMY. (Is grimy taboo?)
29. Actor's audition selection: MONOLOGUE.
30. Spur on: ENCOURAGE.
33. Transport on the way to sink a putt: GOLF CART.
35. "You hang on to that": KEEP IT.
37. "Sinners" director Coogler: RYAN. Ack! A Name!
40. Dark wood: EBONY.
41. Makeover sites: SALONS.
45. Wander off: STRAY.
46. V-formation flyers: GEESE.
47. See 5-Across: TREES.
49. "I call it!": DIBS.
51. Old-school "you": THEE. (Or thou, or ye, but don't get too hung up on thyself...)
53. Guff: LIP.
54. Metallic resource: ORE.
55. Duped: GOT.
And, The Grid.
There you have it. Was it a slam dunk for you (or thou.) or did you jam your thumb?
Let us know in the comments...
CE:D out.
(˵◝ ⩊ ◜˵マ
P.S. A Crossword Corner Blog Interview with Erik Agard from 2013 can be found here.
