Wednesday, Oct 8th, 2025 ~ Amie Walker & Amanda Rafkin

 MAVERICK⁽'⁾S PACERS

I'll take one~! The AMC Pacer

I really enjoyed today's collaboration between two solid crossword constructors Amie & Amanda.  A sports teams theme we have seen before, where the monikers are combined to make a new, funny/punny answer. Today's team names are from the National Basketball Association, the professional organization of a game I have no interest in whatsoever - I'd rather watch golf.  I think it has to do with the squeak of sneakers on hardwood - that and the fact that one only needs tune-in to the last 30secs to see who wins, IMHO.  Lot's of 3LWs, only five(ish) names, and all the theme answers are unique; 

20. Peddles pearls of wisdom?: HAWKS NUGGETS - Atlanta / Denver - see below

28. Observes casual Friday at the office?: BUCKS BLAZERS - Milwaukee / Portland *¹

49. Gains barbers' equipment?: NETS CLIPPERS - Brooklyn / Los Angeles - *²

58. Microsoft virtual work gathering, and what can be found in 20-, 28-, and 49-Across: 

TEAMS MEETING - When I worked at Westhampton Architectural Glass, the only thing we used TEAMS software for was to plan lunch; someone would put up, about 11am, a hint about what they were interested in eating, e.g. "pizza?" - and for the next hour, we would debate what to eat and who was going to pick up the food 😜

The list of all NBA teams

Some other pairings - MAGIC WIZARDS is too easy;

Lightning Affect~? = SPURS THUNDER

Steals from NASA~? = KNICKS ROCKETS

*¹ - Technically, it's the TRAIL Blazers . . .
*² - Technically, a BOROUGH of NY, not the city . . .

And Away We Go~!

ACROSS:

1. Annoy: IRK

4. Bridge action: BID - Not TIE, as in span - that's the wrong kind of bridge - I like this type - 19 bizarre bridges, 12 unusual bridges

Scary~?  Then you suffer from 66A., the Gephyro version

7. Floated in the air: WAFTED 

13. "Good Grief" director Levy: DAN - name #1 - I'm following the "Hahtoolah Convention"

14. Pros: ACES

16. Iggy the Beanie Baby, for one: IGUANA - AND - 29D. Humphrey the Beanie Baby, for one: CAMEL - I still have one Beanie Baby, and three Webkins; had a pet iguana Zeus, too - name(ish)

Yes, Iggy is supposed to be blue . . . 

17. Big fuss: ADO

18. Noodle with a sarashina variety: SOBA - I'm getting the hang of all these four-letter food-types; SOBA, NORI, UDON, MISO, etc

19. "Well, that came out of nowhere": RANDOM

23. "Never mind, I guess": "...OR NOT."

24. New prefix: NEO

25. Sword handle: HILT - not a week goes by without a Wed dupe of a Monday fill . . . .

32. Single-celled organism: AMOEBA

35. "__ Te Ching": TAO - name(ish) - the Wiki

36. Legend-ary achievement?: EGOT - The Grand Slam of Entertainment - Emmy (TV), Grammy (music), Oscar (Hollywood/movies) and Tony (Broadway/stage)

37. Fin. neighbor: NORway

38. Music box?: AMP - I liked this clue for a crossword staple

40. Emoji alternative: GIF

Now The Harlem Globetrotters I can watch~!

42. "Kings & Queens" singer Max: AVA - name #2 - I know the Aerosmith song

43. Like some faces: OVAL - I liked making my avatar on Facebook - but I have a "pear-shaped" face

45. Settings for some TV dramas: ERs - ER is an obvi example, plus tons of others seen here;

I'm not one for any hospital drama, but I did like House, MD

47. Many a suitcase: ROLLER - I "Van Halened" my roller suitcase

I'm on my way to Panama - get it~?

52. "Can I get a __?": "I messed up": "RE-DO~?" or a Mulligan, in golf-speak

53. __ Tomé and Príncipe: SAO - name(ish)

54. Athlete Ledecky who went viral by swimming with a glass of chocolate milk on her head: KATIE - well, I did not know about this - ¯\_(ツ)_/¯  - name #3

Yup, a glass of milk - but not a $5 Shake . . . .

61. Wyndham chain: RAMADA

64. Viral post: MEME

65. Sully: MAR - stain, dirty, damage, ruin, etc.

66. Exposure therapy target: PHOBIA - what's yours~? I am afraid to reveal mine - which, uh, by default, makes clear it's Phobophobia

67. Garment worn under a dress: SLIP

68. One who sounds just like you: EWE - ah, not APE - a very clever meta clue

69. Sitcom about a couple living in a haunted house: GHOSTS - I've only seen the ads for this show

70. Tense NBA periods, for short: OTs - and a bonus 'Easter Egg'

71. Good to go: SET - "got my go-bag, I'm set~!"

DOWN:

1. State that's home to the Museum of Clean: IDAHO - learning moment - the website

2. Weather tracker: RADAR

3. Not just assumed: KNOWN

4. Low-pitched brass instrument: BASS TUBA - this seems a bit redundant for me, but here's more - this clue/answer needed to show up on a Jazzbumpa trombone Wednesday~!

5. Screen symbol: ICON - clecho with - 31. Screen symbol: STAR - I filled them correctly the first time

6. Prove false: DEBUNK - the X-Files word

7. Pipe cleaner center: WIRE - Huh - I didn't know I had a wire at my center....how ironic, having left the pipe organ company, that I made the cover of  The Diapason magazine, and featured inside as well

That's Splynter in the overalls, 35lbs heavier - sheesh

8. "__ All Along": "WandaVision" spinoff: AGATHA - name #4 - more on IMDb

9. Like some small candy bars: FUN-SIZE - 'tis the season~!

10. Small amount: TAD

11. Musician Brian: ENO - name #5

12. Beaver project: DAM

15. Most wise: SAGEST

21. Expensive Japanese beef: KOBE - I tried WAGU, but it's Wagyu

22. Evacuation kit: GO-BAG - here's the 411 from 511 on what to have in yours

26. Following the rules: LEGAL

27. Treasure __: TROVE

30. Frawnche wine valley: LOIRE - Good WAG on my part; must have seen it in CWs before

32. Mystery writer?: ANONymous

33. Boxing pro: MOVER - I suppose this could be either "type" of boxer - the one who packs your stuff, and the "float like a butterfly" sparring expert

34. Give a speech: ORATE

39. Rainbow producer: PRISM - my brother has been reinvesting in classic albums on LP "vinyl" again

41. Permanently: FOR KEEPS

44. Papers needed for some trips?: LSD TABS - har-har~! Monster Magnet's first EP was "25...Tab", featuring a 32min trippy song - and a trippy video someone made here

Dave Wyndorf, lead singer, can be heard saying "make me a sa'mich" - among other things NSFW

46. Involuntary muscle movements: SPASMS - depends on the quality of the Acid, I guess~?

48. Future DA's exam: LSAT - LS 'dee' Acid Trip~?

50. Make changes with a collaborator: CO-EDIT - I'm guessing both "A" authors did on this one....

51. Large citrus fruit: POMELO - ORANGE fit as well; here's a cool image of a lot of citrus fruit

55. Multiplied by: TIMES - L x W = A; length TIMES width equals area

56. "I'm __": "You blow me away": "IN AWE~!"

57. "Snowy" bird: EGRET

59. Smallish batteries: AAAs

60. Give off: EMIT

61. D&D, for one: RPG - Roll Playing Game - in my youth, I was all about Dungeons & Dragons

62. "That hits the spot": "AHH~!"

63. Cow sound: MOO

Splynter

Notes from C.C.:

Happy 84th birthday to dear Jayce! Your steady presence in our little crossword family means so much to all of us. 

May today bring you comfort, a few smiles, and the quiet joy of knowing how deeply you're valued. Sheng Ri Quai Le, John!

Jayce and his wife on their wedding day

Tuesday, October 7, 2025 Matthew Stock and Mark Valdez

Steal  My Heart. 

16-Across. Replace a player on the basepath: PINCH RUN.

20-Across. Comedian who co-created the Netflix animated series "Big Mouth": NICK KROLL.

32-Across. Ski resort pass: LIFT TICKET.

43-Across. "RuPaul's Drag Race" segment featuring celebrity impressions: SNATCH GAME.

57-Across. Reject, on a dating app: SWIPE LEFT.

63-Across. Go on a break, or what the starts of 16-, 20-, 32-, 43-, and 57-Across can be called: TAKE FIVE.  Five examples of stealing.

Across:

1. Scrabble piece: TILE.

5. Come to a close: END.

8. Small fruit pie: TART.

12. Beyoncé, to the Beyhive: IDOL.  Before she went out on her own, Beyoncé Giselle Knowles (b. Sept. 4, 1981), she was the lead singer of Destiny's Child.  Her ardent fans are known as the Beyhive.

13. Caviar: ROE.

14. "Makes sense now": AH, I SEE!

18. Sibling's daughters: NIECES.  //  Lots of family relationships in today's puzzle.  We also saw 24-Across. Unlike 18-Across: MALE.  //  And we have 40-Across. Mama's hermana: TIA.

19. Critical time: D-DAY.

22. October birthstone: OPAL.  Many opals are found in Australia.  Hi, Kazie!

25. Bag-checking org.: TSA.  As in the Transportation Security Administration.

26. Dana Bash's channel: CNN.  Dana Ruth Bash (b. 1971) is an American journalist, news anchor, host of Inside Politics and co-anchor of State of the Union on CNN.

28. Loose-leaf beverage: TEA.  //  And 3-Down. Drink made with Earl Grey tea and steamed milk: LONDON FOG.  I thought London Fog was a clothing manufacturer.

30. Fly or fish, for example: VERB.  //  And 6-Down. Fly or fish, for example: NOUN.

35. Top poker cards: ACES.

39. Houseplant that seldom needs watering: ALOE.

41. Iditarod town: NOME.  A brief history of the Iditarod sled race.

42. Prefix with watts: MEGA.-  So fraught with meaning ...

46. Bread served with biryani: ROTI.  Let's travel to India for today's meal.  Roti is a simple, unleavened flatbread and biryani is an elaborate, aromatic mixed rice dish.  Yummers!

48. Body of water: SEA.

49. Glum: SAD.

50. Orbiting facility: Abbr.: ISS.  As in the International Space Station.

53. __ de gallo: PICO.  Now let's travel to Mexico for our next meal.  Pico de gallo is a Mexican salsa.  Yummers!

55. Dethrone: OUST.

60. Informed: TOLD.

62. Bemoan: LAMENT.

66. Add a raised design to: EMBOSS.

67. Younger "ManningCast" host: ELI.  Eli Manning (né Elisha Nelson Manning; b. Jan. 3, 1981) is the son of Archie (né Elisha Archibald Manning, III; b. May 19, 1949) and the younger brother of Cooper (né  Cooper Archibald Manning) and Peyton (né Peyton Williams Manning; b. Mar. 24, 1976).  The sons were all born in New Orleans.  Cooper's dreams of following the family into a football career were dashed when he was diagnosed with spinal stenosis.  His son, Arch (Archibald Charles Manning; b. Apr. 27, 2004) plays college football.

68. Reverse: UNDO.

69. Stretch across: SPAN.  Bridge building is an engineering feat.

70. Earn after taxes: NET.

71. Loch with a legend: NESS.

Down:

1. Helpful pointer: TIP.

2. Terse confession: I DID.

4. Yosemite Valley landmark, for short: EL CAP.  It's formal name is El Capitan and it is a vertical rock formation in Yosemite National Park.  Sadly, just last week a young climber, Balin Miller (Jan. 12, 2002 ~ October 1, 2025), fell to his death attempting a climb up the face of this rock formation.

5. Use bleach on a load of colored laundry, say: ERR.

7. Jeans fabric: DENIM.  A brief history of Denim.

8. Cake layer: TIER.

9. Posh neckwear: ASCOT.

10. Film spools: REELS.

11. Unit of magnetic flux density: TESLA.

14. Belly dancer's jewelry: ANKLET.

15. Someone to trail behind?: HIKER.

17. Luxury hotel chain: HYATT.

21. Warnings: CAVEATS.

23. "Lilo & Stitch" costume accessory: LEI.

26. Chowder morsel: CLAM.  New England or Manhattan?

27. Cairo's river: NILE.

29. "Smile and be on your best behavior!": ACT NICE!

31. Sharp noise: BANG.

33. Origami slipup: TEAR.

34. Korean automaker: KIA.

36. Boundary between land and water: COASTLINE.

37. Actress Thompson: EMMA.

Emma Thompson, b. Apr. 15, 1959

38. Bird feeder filler: SEED.

43. Tall circus performer's pair: STILTS.

44. Corp. leader: CEO.  As in the Chief Executive Officer.

45. High in the Alps?: HAUTE.  Today's French lesson.  A portion of the Alps are in France.

47. Works the first shift at a café, say: OPENS.

50. Cruise stopovers: ISLES.

51. Shrek's home: SWAMP.

52. Lion hoisted skyward during "Circle of Life": SIMBA.  A reference to The Lion King.

54. Not infrequently: OFTEN.

56. "Whee!": SO FUN!

58. Laborer: PEON.

59. Story: TALE.

61. Box set units: DVDs.

64. Baby fox: KIT.

65. Lip balm brand: EOS. Although EOS is the name of the Greek Goddess of Dawn, in the realm of lip balm, it refers to the Evolution Of Smoothness.

Here's the Grid:

חתולה