10.13.10 — Touchdown!

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Puzzle by Alan Arbesfeld, edited by Will Shortz

Football, with center, tackle, end, guard and lineman within SHOPPING CENTER (20A. Place with a “You Are Here” map), CAT TACKLE (30A. Anchor-hoisting equipment), BITTER END (37A. Longtime Greenwich Village music venue, with “the”), SHIN GUARD (48A. Protection for Pelé) and WICHITA LINEMAN (57A. Glen Campbell hit, the last word of which is this puzzle’s theme), comprises the interrelated group of this Wednesday crossword, giving the seasonal sport a timely touchdown.

Other — ATLANTA (46D. Emory University’s home), CHORTLE (12D. “Through the Looking-Glass” laugh), DINER, EGGS and OJS (55D. Where hash is “slung”; 60D. Orders at a 55-Down; 53A. Breakfast orders at a 55-Down, briefly), DOING OK (47D. Hanging in there), EXECUTOR (8D. Will figure), I DO and TOASTERS (54A. Altar agreement; 38D. Wedding reception participants, often), IN A MOOD (45D. Sulky), IN SHAPE (2D. Like most gym rats), ON TOP OF (3D. Keeping up with), SEA STAR (1D. Five-pointed creature), SHOWIER (41D. More ostentatious), STREAKY (11D. Like some dirty windshields), TIE INTO (42D. Connect with).

Mid-size — AMEER, APORT, CADRE, CASCA (9A. The first to stab Caesar), CINCO, CRENNA, DILATE, ENROL, ESTEEM, GO HOME (“Beat it, kid!”), IRONIC, LENTO, LETEM, REFORM (33A. Go straight), MT FUJI, MYRIAD (44A. Innumerable), NYLON, PETRI (21D. Lab dish inventor), ROBIN, RUTHS, V-CHIP.

Short stuff — ALI, ALOT, ASH and ASL, ASTA and ASTI, ATE, AUNT, AYES, CCED, CLE, CRUX, EES, ELAN, ENNE, EPI, FOE and HOE and MOE, GONG, GOTO, HONE, LUNG, NEAP, ROTE, SDAK (69A. Badlands locale: Abbr.), SION, STER, TAP, USN, VILE.

“Football is an honest game. It's true to life. It's a game about sharing. Football is a team game. So is life.” ~ Joe Namath

 

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Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games (solutions to puzzles are available immediately by clicking on “Solution” in the Across Lite menu).

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. “The Da Vinci Code” priory; 5. Disgusting-lasting; 14. Feminine suffix; 15. Key point; 16 Gordon and Ginsburg; 17. Dog in whodunits; 18. Fine-tune; 19. Register; 23. Brew source; 24. Dermal opening?; 25. Fleet letters; 26. Packed away; 28. Left at sea; 35. Howard who parodied Adolf; 36. Affirmative actions?; 40. Source of bubbly; 43. The other army; 51. Slowly, to Solti; 52. Ground breaker; 56. Muslim convert in 1964 news; 61. Half of diez; 62. Verve; 63. Instrument played with a mallet; 64. “I don’t care if they do”; 65. Learning by flash cards, e.g.; 66. Seek out; 67. Decrease, as support; 68. Poll closing? — DOWN: 4. Tide type; 5. TV blocking device; 6. Having a twist; 7. One getting an inspiration?; 9. Actor Richard of “Rambo” films; 10. Unpaid sitter, perhaps; 13. Hand communication: Abbr.; 22. Hold in regard; 27. Some R.P.I. grads; 29. Batpole user; 31. Mideast leader: Var.; 32. Core group; 34. Japan’s highest point: Abbr.; 39. Hose material; 40. Smokestack emission; 50. Get wider; 58. E-mailed a dupe to; 59. Jillions; 61. A.L. Central city.