Everything Else — 1A: Citrus source (LIME TREE); 9A: __-Turkish War (ITALO); 14A: Quartz variety (JASPER); 20A: Boss's okays, often (INITIALS); 21A: Twangy (NASAL); 22A: Duck à l'orange, e.g. (ENTRÉE); 25A: "Gil Blas" novelist (LESAGE); 26A: __-jongg (MAH); 27A: Half a dance (CHA); 28A: Daily opinion page, briefly (OP-ED); 29A: Van Gogh works (OILS); 31A: Designer monogram (YSL); 32A: Whacked, biblically (SMOTE); 34A: Key of Brahms's Symphony No. 4 (E MINOR); 36A: Notorious '80s-'90s crime boss (GOTTI); 38A: Three-handed card game (SKAT); 39A: Regret deeply (LAMENT); 41A: Maker of Nutri-Grain Waffles (EGGO); 43A: Cell messengers (RNA'S); 46A: Roman holiday (FESTA); 48A: "The Mod Squad" role (LINC); 49A: Record material (VINYL); 50A: Fairy tale baddie (OGRE); 53A: Onetime Burmese statesman (U NU); 54A: Go (DEPART); 56A: Picnic spoiler (RAIN); 58A: Rocking Turner (TINA); 59A: Sonoma and Safari (GMC'S); 64A: Computer acronym (ASCII); 66A: Customer file ID (ACCT. NO.); 68A: Fed. medical org. (NIH); 72A: Red-and-white supermarket logo (IGA); 73A: Bottom line, ideally (PROFIT); 75A: When gluttons eat (OFTEN); 76A: Tick off (IRK); 77A: Rehab admission (USER); 78A: Hail __ (A CAB); 79A: Get to work again (FIX); 80A: "Take __ from me" (A TIP); 82A: Nova __ (SCOTIA); 84A: Bentley of "American Beauty" (WES); 92A: Do a double take, say (REACT); 94A: Wool: Pref. (LANI-); 95A: Addition symbol (CARET); 96A: Fanaticism (ZEAL); 97A: Golfer's option (CART); 98A: From the heart? (AORTAL); 100A: "Soap" family name (TATE); 101A: PC troubleshooters (TECHS); 103A: Courses at bars (SALADS); 105A: Idyllic spots (EDENS); 107A: Own, to a Glaswegian (HAE); 109A: "Excuse me ..." ("AHEM …"); 111A: Store of ore (LODE); 112A: Cheerleader's word (RAH); 113A: Space (GAP); 115A: Richards of "Jurassic Park" (ARIANA); 121A: Not as chilly (MILDER); 122A: Prosecutor's burden (PROOF); 123A: Perturbs (AGITATES); 124A: Bully's dare (MAKE ME); 125A: Personnel (STAFF); 126A: Ship's cargo list (MANIFEST); 1D: Neeson of "The A-Team" (LIAM); 2D: To-do pile site (IN-BASKET); 3D: Hodgepodge (MISH-MASH); 5D: Touch of color (TINCT); 6D: "The Sea Around Us" author Carson (RACHEL); 7D: Zeno's home (ELEA); 8D: That, in Tijuana (ESO); 9D: If nothing else works (IN A PINCH); 10D: Scout's discovery (TALENT); 11D: "... say, and not __" (AS I DO); 12D: Europe's __ de Genève (LAC); 15D: "__ of robins ..." (A NEST); 16D: OK and others (STS.); 19D: Virginia __ (REEL); 24D: Instigate (FOMENT); 30D: Pop of rock (IGGY); 33D: Aquatic frolickers (OTTERS); 35D: Restrains (REINS IN); 37D: Torrid Zone boundary (TROPIC); 38D: Bay Area hub: Abbr. (SFO); 40D: Friends-and-family support group (AL-ANON); 42D: Safari sighting (GNU); 44D: Adapt musically (ARRANGE); 45D: Jazz group? (SET); 49D: Spock, partly (VULCAN); 52D: Israeli port city (EILAT); 55D: Inscribe (ETCH); 57D: Southend-on-Sea's county (ESSEX); 59D: Econ. measure (GNP); 60D: Word with drug or mile (MIRACLE); 63D: Previously (AGO); 64D: Museum exhibitor (ARTIST); 65D: Uganda's Amin (IDI); 66D: Invite as one's date for (ASK TO); 67D: Wake maker (OAR); 69D: Netanyahu of Israel, familiarly (BIBI); 70D: Results (EFFECTS); 71D: Lawrence's land (ARABIA); 74D: Femme __ (FATALE); 77D: Keep current (UPDATE); 81D: Business mag (INC.); 82D: Speaks in slang? (SEZ); 84D: Simple card game (WAR); 85D: What you might take if you're tired? (A LOAD OFF); 86D: Food storage area (LARDER); 87D: Sinus specialists, briefly (ENT'S); 88D: Reagan-era scandal (IRAN-GATE); 89D: Proprietor's calculation (NET SALES); 90D: Onetime AT&T rival (GTE); 93D: Relax (EASE); 98D: Many (A LOT OF); 99D: Get closer, as to hear better (LEAN IN); 102D: Cave __: beware of the dog (CANEM); 104D: Foil maker (ALCOA); 106D: Hindu loincloth (DHOTI); 107D: "Go for the Goal" autobiographer (HAMM); 108D: Operatic highlight (ARIA); 110D: MLB honorees (MVP'S); 112D: Hindu music style (RAGA); 114D: It ain't quite "Hey!" ("PSST!"); 118D: NYC subway (IRT); 119D: "__ Sam": "Green Eggs and Ham" opening (I AM); 120D: U.K. defense arm (RAF).
THEME: Double Plays — Six theme answers, which are actually three pairs of answers, where each pair's first words are opposites of one another in baseball terminology.
Wow, this is a lot of puzzle for a Monday. Six theme answers that are related not just through a general topic (baseball), but through their implication in pairs of opposites (OUT / SAFE, STRIKE / BALL, FAIR / FOUL). Really great. I think this puzzle was slightly thornier and more intricate than your average Monday (though my time was pretty avg.). Interesting phrases like OUT OF WHACK and BALL OF WAX made for a livelier and less predictable-seeming grid than Mondays often offer. I started out strong with SLAW (1A: Sandwich side) and LAILA (2D: Boxer Ali) and ASK OF (3D: Request from), but then jumped the gun on 4D: Moby Dick, notably and wrote in WHALE as the first word. WHALE TALE didn't fit, so I went back to the NW and found my mistake. Other hiccups included having OUT OF ORDER for OUT OF WHACK and not being able to get 57D: Vibrant look (glow) even though the "GL" was already in place. Otherwise, Monday smooth.
Theme answers:
18A: Not in working order, informally (OUT OF WHACK) — "Informally" should have told me "ORDER" was wrong.
23A: Crook who doesn't need the combination (SAFE CRACKER) — Also known as a YEGG, which is a word you will see in the grid, eventually.
36A: Union benefit during a walkout (STRIKE PAY)
42A: Everything, informally (BALL OF WAX) — Thought the clue on this made it toughish. Very vague.
47A: Promising picnic forecast (FAIR WEATHER)
60A: Tendency to anger easily (FOUL TEMPER)
Crosswordese 101: BOZ (15A: Dickens pen name) — Choosing today's word was tough. I strongly considered going with SABU, primarily because I feel like you're likely to see him more often than you are BOZ, but BOZ won out. Like SABU, I learned BOZ from crosswords. No big Dickens fan, I - though I don't dislike him either. I'm just ignorant about most of his work, and tend not to go for the 800-page novel when I'm choosing reading material (exceptions = Anna Karenina and Don Quixote). "Sketches by Boz" was an 1833 collection of journalistic portraits of people and places around London. Its success launched Dickens' career, and paved the way for the serialization of his first novel, The Pickwick Papers. BOZ was also the nickname of college football great (and pro football also-ran) Brian Bosworth.
What else?
65A: Grammar best-seller "Woe _____" ("IS I") — Grammarians may find it too informal and breezy, but ordinary folk with no predisposition to care about grammar might like it. My students have generally liked it.
10D: Quantum physicist Niels (BOHR) — The puzzle's most famous physicist.
52D: Wascally Wabbit hunter (ELMER) — Great clue for one of the greatest Looney Tunes characters.
54D: Bay Area enforcers (SFPD) — Often clued via Dirty Harry (last name Callahan).
Enjoy your Memorial Day. And happy first birthday to my chocolate lab, Gabby.
~Rex
Everything Else — 1A: Sandwich side dish (SLAW); 5A: Quick __ flash (AS A); 8A: Open, as a gate (UNBOLT); 14A: Itchy condition (RASH); 15A: Dickens pen name (BOZ); 16A: Connect, as a stereo (HOOK UP); 17A: Kind of party torch (TIKI); 18A: Not in working order, informally (OUT OF WHACK); 20A: Frequently (A LOT); 21A: On the ocean (ASEA); 22A: Deli breads (RYES); 23A: Crook who doesn't need the combination (SAFECRACKER); 27A: Roll of bills (WAD); 28A: Las Vegas's desert (MOJAVE); 33A: Shooter's aiming aid (SIGHT); 36A: Union benefit during a walkout (STRIKE PAY); 39A: Vicinity (AREA); 40A: Valuable thing (ASSET); 41A: Shredded (TORE); 42A: Everything, informally (BALL OF WAX); 44A: Annual athletic awards (ESPYS); 45A: Vote out (UNSEAT); 46A: Hip-hop Dr. (DRE); 47A: Promising picnic forecast (FAIRWEATHER); 54A: Thick carpet (SHAG); 58A: Point on a wire fence (BARB); 59A: Tall story (TALE); 60A: Tendency to anger easily (FOUL TEMPER); 63A: Mrs. Peel of "The Avengers" (EMMA); 64A: Regional dialect (PATOIS); 65A: Grammar best-seller "Woe __" (IS I); 66A: Regretted (RUED); 67A: Start to nod off (DROWSE); 68A: Souse's woe (DTS); 69A: Full of pep (SPRY); 1D: Madrid misses: Abbr. (SRTAS); 2D: Boxer Ali (LAILA); 3D: Request from (ASK OF); 4D: Moby Dick, notably (WHITE WHALE); 5D: On the plane (ABOARD); 6D: Composer of marches (SOUSA); 7D: Early Mexican (AZTEC); 8D: TV dial letters (UHF); 9D: Right away (NOW); 10D: Quantum physicist Niels (BOHR); 11D: "Works for me" (OKAY); 12D: Time co-founder Henry (LUCE); 13D: Toll rds. (TPKS); 19D: Acorn source (OAK); 24D: Maine coon, for one (CAT); 25D: Give forth (EMIT); 26D: Soldier of Seoul (ROK); 29D: Fashionable fliers (JET-SETTERS); 30D: Per unit (A POP); 31D: Fluctuate (VARY); 32D: Peepers (EYES); 33D: Child star of "The Thief of Bagdad" (1940) (SABU); 34D: Persia, nowadays (IRAN); 35D: Hair goops (GELS); 36D: Opposite of NNE (SSW); 37D: Hijack-prevention gp. (TSA); 38D: "Oedipus __" (REX); 40D: Old Spice alternative (AFTA); 43D: Blockhead (OAF); 44D: Noteworthy period (ERA); 46D: Explosion remains (DEBRIS); 48D: "Big Blue" (IBM); 49D: Fast (RAPID); 50D: Obtain using force (WREST); 51D: Overplay (HAM UP); 52D: Wascally Wabbit hunter (ELMER); 53D: "__, aim, fire!" (READY); 54D: Bay Area enforcers, initially (SFPD); 55D: Icy coating (HOAR); 56D: Car (AUTO); 57D: Vibrant look (GLOW); 61D: "__ the season ..." ('TIS); 62D: Suffix with Siam (-ESE).
THEME: B to B — six theme answers start and end with letter "B"
Wow, lots of screw-ups today on my way to completion, started with MEAL for DISH (1A: Entrée) and continued throughout the puzzle. Never saw the theme until I was done with the puzzle. Seems a rather superficial premise for a theme, but the resulting answers are interesting enough. Like today's NYT puzzle, this one felt more wide-open than your typical Monday puzzle. Long Downs in the NE and SW, and big blocks of 5s and 6s in the NW and SE made this Monday less easy to chew up than others. Having no coherent theme added a bit to the difficulty as well, but in the end it was still Monday easy.
Theme answers:
17A: Excellent performance (BANG-UP JOB)
29A: Sci. class where many an "Eeuw!" is heard (BIO LAB)
46A: Bill for what you drank (BAR TAB)
62A: Satan (BEELZEBUB)
11D: Betray by bad-mouthing (BACK STAB)
39D: Angels or Dodgers (BALL CLUB)
Crosswordese 101: LIRE (66A: Old Bologna bucks) — "Bucks" are specifically "dollars," so I have no idea what that word is doing in this clue. The LIRA (LIRE is a plural) was of course the currency of Italy before that country converted to the EURO (another common crossword answer) in 1999. It is also the name of the currency of Turkey, and is used as another name (in local languages) for the Syrian pound, Lebanese pound, and the Jordanian dinar. LIRE also means "to read" in French.
What else?
5A: Beatnik's "Understood" ("I DIG") — The puzzle loves its beatniks. Another common answer to a clue like this is "I'M HIP." Beatniks also wear BERETS and play BONGOS and recite poetry at cafes. I have a hard time believing they ever actually existed. They seem always to have been fictional / legendary. I have a movie poster on my living room wall of the movie "The Beat Generation." The tag line: "Behind the weird 'way-out' world of the BEATNIKS!" Mmmm, Mamie van Doren.
19A: Big name in precision blades (X ACTO) — Wanted ATRA or something shaving related.
21A: Perp's excuse (ALIBI) — I like the clue.
24A: Winter fisherman's tool (ICE SAW) — See also ICE AX, which shows up in puzzles an awful lot.
26A: Out of kilter (AMISS) — Went with ASKEW. Also went with BALL TEAM for BALL CLUB, BACK TALK for BACK STAB, and ADAGE for MAXIM (9D: "A stitch in time..." is one).
41A: Skewered meal (KABOB) — Weird. Two wrong answers I wanted elsewhere in the grid (ASKEW and MEAL) turn up in the same clue (ASKEW and "Skewered" are close enough). Beware alternative spellings of KABOB. I think the "A" can be an "E" and (if "Flight of the Conchords" is to be believed) the "O" can be an "A."
10D: Vocalist Sumac (YMA) — She is also everywhere. Someday she will be the topic of Crosswordese 101.
41D: Be a nuisance at the card game (KIBITZ) — For such a Scrabbly word, it shows up quite a bit in xwords.
44D: "Krazy" comics feline (KAT) — Perhaps the greatest newspaper comic of all time. Also, the second half of a delicious kandy bar.
See you all Friday.
~Rex
Everything Else — 1A: EntrÈe (DISH); 5A: Beatnik's "Understood" (IDIG); 9A: "I goofed" (MYBAD); 14A: Jacob's biblical twin (ESAU); 15A: The Beatles' "Love __" (MEDO); 16A: Italian violin maker (AMATI); 17A: Excellent performance (BANGUPJOB); 19A: Big name in precision blades (XACTO); 20A: Dangerous household gas (RADON); 21A: Perp's excuse (ALIBI); 23A: Author Kesey (KEN); 24A: Winter fisherman's tool (ICESAW); 26A: Out of kilter (AMISS); 28A: Old map letters (SSR); 29A: Sci. class where many an "Eeuw!" is heard (BIOLAB); 33A: Germany's von Bismarck (OTTO); 35A: Payment to an ex (ALIMONY); 36A: Light bulb unit (WATT); 37A: "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" playwright Edward (ALBEE); 40A: Gardner of film (AVA); 41A: Skewered meal (KABOB); 42A: Honey (DEAR); 43A: Register at the hotel (CHECKIN); 45A: Spanish surrealist (DALI); 46A: Bill for what you drank (BARTAB); 47A: Concorde, e.g. (SST); 50A: Academy trainee (PLEBE); 52A: Musical ineptitude (TINEAR); 54A: The Big Apple, initially (NYC); 55A: Eurasian range (URALS); 59A: Flourless cake (TORTE); 60A: Conger catcher (EELER); 62A: Satan (BEELZEBUB); 64A: Handles roughly (MAULS); 65A: Showed up (CAME); 66A: Old Bologna bucks (LIRE); 67A: Round trip? (ORBIT); 68A: Revue component (SKIT); 69A: Went under (SANK); 1D: Rubble (DEBRIS); 2D: Newton and Stern (ISAACS); 3D: Smoothing tool (SANDER); 4D: Science fiction awards (HUGOS); 5D: Babysitter's handful (IMP); 6D: __ vu (DEJA); 7D: "American __" (IDOL); 8D: Desert largely in Mongolia (GOBI); 9D: "A stitch in time ..." is one (MAXIM); 10D: Vocalist Sumac (YMA); 11D: Betray by bad-mouthing (BACKSTAB); 12D: Vouch for (ATTESTTO); 13D: Singer Celine (DION); 18D: Lacking what it takes (UNABLE); 22D: Eater of purÈed peas (BABY); 25D: Nintendo game system (WII); 27D: Dubuque native (IOWAN); 30D: Nebraska city (OMAHA); 31D: Tryst participant (LOVER); 32D: Put on __: pretend (ANACT); 34D: Tout's hangout, briefly (OTB); 35D: Eagle's nest (AERIE); 37D: Say further (ADD); 38D: 2012 is the next one (LEAPYEAR); 39D: Angels or Dodgers (BALLCLUB); 41D: Be a nuisance at the card game (KIBITZ); 43D: "Ten-four" speaker (CBER); 44D: "Krazy" comics feline (KAT); 47D: Belgrade's country (SERBIA); 48D: Ringed planet (SATURN); 49D: Host who expects you to question his answer? (TREBEK); 51D: Explode (BURST); 53D: Carols (NOELS); 54D: Verne captain (NEMO); 56D: First grade basics (ABCS); 57D: Faucet problem (LEAK); 58D: 18-wheeler (SEMI); 61D: Connecticut Ivy Leaguer (ELI); 63D: Allow (LET).
