07.29.09 -- Teams

Wednesday,
July 29, 2009
Puzzle by Tim Wescott, edited by Will Shortz
Six long entries, each containing consecutive circles spelling out the name of various Major League Baseball teams seems to be the losing game of today’s crossword -- Astro, MAKES A STRO NG CASE (17A. Argue forcibly); Ray, CROP SPRAYER (28A. Presticide spreader, e.g.); Twin, SHORT-WINDED (48A. Terse); Giant, NORWEGIAN THRONE (61A. Where Olaf I or Olaf II sat); Ranger, ORANGE RINDS (11D. Juicer remnants); Met, COME TO TERMS (24D. Shake hands). That leaves 24 teams in the cold. There are other references to sports in the crossword, but most are unrelated to baseball. What?
Continuing on, entries of mid-size include ARE TOO (23D. “Am not!” response); BRONCO (26D. It’s most useful when it’s broken); GARRET (19D. “La Boheme” setting); HEDGED (49D. Counterbalanced, as bets); INCHES (50D. What some races are won by); NESSIE (40D. Storied monster informally); NOLTES (33D. Actor Nick and family); ONE-SIDED (55A. Like a
Möbius strip) and ONSIDE (34d. Like some football kicks); RENEGE (9D. Bridge no-no); SCHULZ (22D. Charles who created Peppermint Patty); STAINS (5D. Discolorations); TIE A KNOT (21A. Finish lacing up); YEASTY (31D. Like bread dough or beer).
Five-letter -- ARBOR (30D. Shady retreat); 52D. AS WAS the custom (traditionally); EASES (68A. Moves gingerly); ENRON (37A. Name in 2001 bankruptcy news); INLET (14A. Sheltered water); JAILS (1A. Clinks) and TAILS (42A. “Call it!” call); LOTTE (43A. Lehmann of opera); SICKO (10D. 2007 Michael Moore documentary); SOAPY (18D. Needing a rinse); SQUAT (71A. Like Yogi Berra, physically); TWIST (45D. Dance for Chubby Checker); UTENN (39A. Knoxville sch.).
Short stuff -- AFAR, ANA, ANET, ANTI, ART, ATOI, COST, DANK and DEKE, EIRE, ENO, ERNE, EST, FORT, GROG, HEMI, ILK, IRAQ, IRMA, IRON, JIM, LEER, NAAN, NAB, NBA and NEA, NORA, ONIT, OSU, PINT, RIO, ROTE, SAC, SCI, SOSA and SOSO, SSE, TASE and TASS, YIN, YORE, ZOO.
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Remaining clues -- Across: 6. Way out; 10. Baseball star in Senate steroid hearings; 15. Repetitive routine; 16. It may be pumped; 20. South American cruise stop; 22. ___ fly (run producer); 25. Catch red-handed; 27. Royal Navy drink of old; 32. Brian of ambient music; 35. Prefix with sphere; 36. Arthurian times, say; 41. Grizzlies’ org.; 44. Damage, so to speak; 46. Con man?; 47. Chaotic place; 51. “Don’t ___ me, bro!”; 53. Dark half of a Chinese circle; 54. G.P.S. heading; 59. Class with the periodic table on the wall, often: Abbr.; 66. “___ la Douce” (1963 film); 67. Fish-eating raptor; 69. Cold war propaganda disseminator; 70. Rink fake. Down: 1. Huck’s raft mate; 2. Bibliophile’s suffix; 3. Sort; 4. Loung lizard’s look; 6. Works in a gallery; 7. Snow structure; 8. Yours, in Tours; 12. Eh; 13. Work without ___ (be daring); 29. Blood drive donation; 38. Tandoor-baked bread; 55. “Get ___!” (“Stop procrastinating!”); 56. “The Thin Man” detective; 57. Mayo’s land; 58. Dungeonlike; 60. Modern home of ancient Ur; 62. Alumna bio word; 63. Columbus sch.; 64. Teachers org.; 65. 1970s self-improvement program.

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