ACROSS LITE PUZZLE: [ THEMELESS MONDAY]
PROGRAM: [Across Lite]
PRINTOUT PUZZLE: [ THEMELESS MONDAY]
PROGRAM: [Adobe Acrobat]
For last week Thursday puzzle, I was thinking about making one called Team Six after the events in the news. Best idea I could have come up was having the themed clues read {Red Sox}, {Cardinals}, {Tigers}, {Twins}, and {Padres}. And of course, their answers would be the men who wore 6 on each of these teams: JOHNNY PESKY, STAN MUSIAL, AL KALINE, TONY OLIVA, and STEVE GARVEY. Alas, they wouldn't split symmetrically. I toyed with the idea for a while of adding other sports, but only the NBA offered any support: BILL RUSSELL and JULIUS ERVING. None in the NFL or NHL. Plus, I felt mixing the sports made it inconsistent. Therefore, TEAM SIX became the seed entry for this puzzle.
Those who know my work know I usually put the seed entry in the the last across entry, but for this one I tried putting it at 1-Across. Nothing special happened there, so I moved it down just one row to achieve what we have here. Liked the dual of-the-moment entries TEAM SIX and PANETTA crossing each other in that corner. I then moved down to the SW, and since variety is the spice of life, I again avoided putting the seed entry in the last entry across. Over here the seed was THE F WORD, unsurprisingly. Was pretty happy to get another never-before used entry at 41-Down, even if it is pretty fugly. After wrapping up the middle bit, 37-Down went in next. Upon reflection, that would be a great entry to go along one of the edges. But esses are great to start words as well.
Cluing is hard, but hopefully fair. Personal favorites include 8-Across, 30-Across, and 1-Down (unfortunately, one I know too damn well).
Share the puzzle. New one on Thursday.
Brendan Emmett Quigley creates custom-made puzzles for all occasions: birthdays and bar mitzvahs, anniversaries and retirements. You name it. Need a puzzle for your website or your publication? He can do that, too.
Brendan's custom work clients have included The American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, BeerAdvocate, Boston Magazine, De Beers, The Decemberists, ESPN, The Improper Bostonian, Lollapuzzoola, McSweeney's, Phish, Reflexive, The Smithsonian Magazine, St. Martin's Press, Uncle John's Bathroom Reader, and Andrew Weil.
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