Theme: "End Game" - The end of each theme entry is a type of game. Each theme entry is punnily clued.
22. Card game for students?: CLASS WAR.
24. Card game for the lovelorn?: LONELY HEARTS.
43. Board game for spies?: COVERT OPERATION.
Unaware of the game. Wiki says "is a battery-operated game of physical
skill that tests players' hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills."
66. Card game for plumbers?: BATHTUB GIN.
68. Playground game for bellhops?: LUGGAGE TAG.
86. Card game for office temps?: SHORT-TERM MEMORY. No memory of this game at all.
110. Card game for auto mechanics?: GREASY SPOONS.
113. Board game for tightrope walkers?: HIGH RISK.
It would be super tight if Gary limited all theme entries to all games. I bet he tried but could not find enough theme entries. Reminds me a bit of James Sajdak "card game" a few years ago.
It would be super tight if Gary limited all theme entries to all games. I bet he tried but could not find enough theme entries. Reminds me a bit of James Sajdak "card game" a few years ago.
Across:
1. "Welcome" site: MAT.
4. Word clarified by the minute hand: PAST. Oh, like "ten past six".
8. Rainbows, e.g.: ARCS.
12. __-Trinity National Forest, California's largest: SHASTA. Any of you been there?
18. Bullring bravo: OLE.
19. In __: as found: SITU.
20. Haul contents: LOOT.
21. Seafood sauce: TARTAR. Boomer likes it with his Aldi fish sticks
27. Waffling: HESITANT.
28. Donnybrook: MELEE.
29. Easy __: AS PIE.
30. Roll call calls: AYES.
31. Hungers (for): LUSTS.
34. __ Gherardini, memorable portrait subject: LISA. D'oh! Mona Lisa. I never knew her surname.
36. Cub with dingers: SOSA.
37. Abbr. on old maps: SSR.
38. Quad minus two?: STEREO. OK, four speakers minus two.
40. Hang (around) as friends: PAL.
41. Medical implants: STENTS.
46. Paid military group, briefly: MERCS. Mercenaries.
48. Herr Schindler: OSKAR.
49. Stable serving: HAY. Horse's stable.
50. Cpl.'s superior: SGT.
53. Spock's father: SAREK. No idea.
54. ... with __ organized crime: TIES TO.
57. Catch: SNARE.
59. "For every child" rights group: UNICEF. Lots of celebrity goodwill ambassadors.
61. Lyft rival: UBER.
63. Place for a dip: POND.
65. Morlock victims: ELOI.
70. Hideous folklore figure: OGRE.
71. Bull, say: MALE.
72. Youngsters: KIDS.
73. Literature Nobelist Gordimer: NADINE. South African.
74. Big name at The Hershey Company: REESE.
76. Shade tree: LINDEN. Has any you seen these flowers? It's called 洋槐花 in Chinese and we eat the flowers. This article says it's popular in North America. But I've never seen one in person.
78. Flax fabric: LINEN.
79. Supporter of arms, for short: NRA. Nice clue.
80. Hispanic leader in a beret: CHE.
82. Sandwiches for dessert: OREOS.
85. Meted (out): DOLED.
90. Taylor's on-again, off-again romance: BURTON (Richard)
93. Unseld of the NBA: WES.
94. Make bubbly: AERATE.
95. Fairy queen: MAB.
98. Manual reader: USER.
99. Excited about, with "on": KEEN.
101. Year's record: ANNAL.
102. Taiwanese tea drink: BOBA. More commonly "Bubble tea". The chewy balls at the bottom are made of tapioca flour.
103. Skin flick: NUDIE.
105. Caribbean cruise stop: ARUBA.
107. Man of letters?: PAT SAJAK. Another great clue.
114. Boyd who was married to Clapton: PATTIE. George Harrison too.
115. Nullify: UNDO.
116. "Of course": I SEE.
117. Driver's helper: TEE. Golf club.
118. Gets some shuteye: SLEEPS.
119. Lentil, e.g.: SEED.
120. Pinochle combo: MELD.
121. Eight-time Norris Trophy winner: ORR. Here is the full list. He won it 8 consecutive times (1968–75).
Down:
1. McDonald's drink orders: MOCHAS.
2. They may be blind: ALLEYS.
3. Movie preview: TEASER.
4. Subtle "Check this out!": PSST.
5. Former Sony brand: AIWA.
6. Comic book legend: STAN LEE.
7. John of "Quiz Show": TURTURRO. Regular in Coen brothers' movies.
8. Apiece, in scores: ALL.
9. Shares a place (with): ROOMS.
10. Holiday garland item: CONE.
11. First-rate: STELLAR.
12. Eye sores: STYES.
13. "I told you so!": HAH.
14. Specialty: AREA.
15. Nine-time presidential contender Harold: STASSEN. He died shortly before I came to Minnesota.
16. Atlantic game fish: TARPON.
17. Con __: ARTIST.
23. Bro's counterpart: SIS.
25. Bizet opera priestess: LEILA.
26. High or heavy bodies: SEAS.
32. Jazz club units: SETS. And 33. Had a break between 32-Down: TOOK TEN.
35. Most populous continent: ASIA.
38. Certain wrench component: SOCKET.
39. Boob tubes: TVS.
40. German : Vater :: French : __: PERE. Vater, Father. We also have 43. French for "mangers": CRECHES. 62. "Très __": BIEN.
42. Santa's sackful: TOYS. Sure miss our Santa! So grateful dear Spitzboov was able to see Argyle and gave up an update before he passed away.
44. Strong "pocket" holding in Hold 'em: PAIR.
44. Strong "pocket" holding in Hold 'em: PAIR.
45. Flip-flop: THONG.
46. Le Carré's "The Night __": MANAGER.
47. Land on the Red Sea: ERITREA.
50. Soup cracker: SALTINE.
51. Reacted to corn, maybe: GROANED. Corny, but Agnes loves her sweet corn.
52. Model Chrissy: TEIGEN. Wife of John Legend. Very outspoken.
53. Induce, as perjury: SUBORN. New word to me.
55. Tater: SPUD.
56. Clothing: TOGS.
58. In an impoverished way: NEEDILY.
60. Big fairy tale character word: FUM.
61. Wrinkly fruit: UGLI. They are in every grocery store now.
64. Patrick with a simulcast sports show: DAN.
64. Patrick with a simulcast sports show: DAN.
67. Farm machine: BALER.
68. Center, for one: LINEMAN.
69. In copious amounts: GALORE.
72. Golden State Warriors coach Steve: KERR.
75. Amazon speaker brand: ECHO. CrossEyedDave has this gadget.
77. Female antelopes: DOES.
81. Word before "if you like" on some stickers: HONK.
83. Eclipse, maybe: OMEN.
84. Sistine Chapel ceiling figures: SERAPHIM. Plural of "Seraph".
85. Period, e.g.: DOT.
86. Groove: STRIATE. This showed up when I googled.
87. Pipsqueak: TWERP.
88. Lacking a sound basis: TENUOUS.
89. Pre-head cold feeling: MALAISE.
90. Keg stopper: BUNG. Also a new term to me.
91. Takes by force: USURPS.
92. Start the hand over: RE-DEAL.
95. Cuban rum drink: MOJITO.
96. Bully, often: ABASER.
97. Either original "PTL Club" co-host: BAKKER. Jim or Tammy Faye Bakker.
100. Relieves: EASES.
101. "Storage Wars" network: A AND E.
102. Setting for many a joke: BAR.
104. One of four direcciones: ESTE. Directions.
106. Paleontologist's discovery: BONE.
108. Neutrogena shampoo brand: T GEL. Never used this shampoo.
109. Shake off: SHED.
111. Pup's cry: YIP.
112. Early Great Plains building material: SOD.
C.C.
