"Ball Control" - November 26, 2021

[Bill_Swerski_13]

On shore! It's been a while... Agreed that it took me way longer than I thought it would at first.

[doc1388]

After flailing at sea Friday,
a bourbon aged stout was due.
What to say, all was not okay,
for the Meta in my mind was askew.

As I lay my head on the pillow,
a coveted mug I would so adore.
Alas the clue drifts into my head like a willow,
I can finally say ... "Ashore!"

[KscX]

Finally ashore! Patience brings success more often than not.

[cheryl w]

Ashore after several weeks on the beach. Loved the mechanism.

RTR!

[Limerick Savant]

Happy Thanksgiving to all you nice Muggles.

Solved and ashore as of early yesterday morning but I just realized that everything else I have to say this week is at least a very big nudge and potentially a

It’s been a challenging year but there is much to be thankful for including the nudges and coaching I have received here that have allowed me to tackle the meta more often than not. I may not be first down at the beach this week but then I wasn’t rushing to pass anyone on the way. All I can do is go forth, and long for the day that the trophy mug will be mine. When I reach that goal, post, I will, my mug shot sans face mask. For now I will just punt with this limerick.

Knowing the score
(Hint: It’s 7 points)

Once you iron out the grid, this week’s version
Will become a most welcome excursion
And you’ll find that the trick
To avoiding the kick
Is to make the suggested conversion

BTW, Go Bearcats!

[kgiano]

Ashore

[maprasad]

Ashore. Just started doing the puzzle again last week and I must say it was a very inauspicious return! So glad to have this one solved and submitted! Thankful for this lovely group.

[Streroto]

Wow major major head slap. When I woke up this morning it was right there. So now I can post what I had been thinking about while LAS

There once was an old man on St John
Without a device which to print on
He copied the grid
The puzzle he did
In his email to Mike he said “hey mon!”

Deepest rabbit holes EVER
Stay well all

Agree with you and others on the deep rabbit hole. (Same one? Who knows!) My son and I started down one and quickly realized it was WAY too deep to be right. Quickly changed course and got the same head slap.

It's gotta be one of the standard hints for solving, at least for me. If you find yourself getting into a really deep rabbit hole, (especially those where a spreadsheet is involved), then you are probably on the wrong course. Either that or the puzzle constructor is a sadist who doesn't want anyone to solve their puzzles.

Yes a spreadsheet was very much involved and I agree completely!!

[John77]

On Shore.
I was going to say it breaks a long dry spell, but I didn't stop drinking.
Now it's time for a (this time celebratory) Tree House King Julius.
Sláinte!

[DianeA]

Well, someone has to stay with Isaac. I've tried to leave the ship, but am stuck at the bar (and NOT a sand bar). Thought i'd get it, have gone down multiple paths, but they all ended back here. Maybe at dinner i'll get another idea. Hope to have a happy update, later.

[Wendy Walker]

Sunday Evening Update / Final Manifest

We had a wonderful Muggle turnout on the shore this week: 197!

Arriving today were the Commodore (who will henceforth be assigned Apple Pie Duty -- gosh, but those looked delicious!), FKelly, Flying Burrito, Steve B, ISW, M and M, Bread-Girl, JJD, MLVILV, Jim & Anita, Ed Strong, Barney, Olaf, Joe S, M Flaminio, auee89, Bill Swerski13, doc1388, KscX, Cheryl W, Limerick Savant, KGiano, Maprasad, and John 77. Streroto made the swim to shore after previously declaring himself on the ship; the kindhearted Diane A is keeping barkeep Isaac company.

Cruise Director Bob will return for this coming week's WSJ Crossword Contest. It's been my pleasure to fill in for him! A reminder that the Muggles have a Zoom meetup on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. EST -- all are welcome. Just click on the link at the top of this page, underneath Isaac's photo.

[Relic]

Hi everyone,

I was about to punt, pulled a fake and dove in. I am ashore, hoping it is the correct beach. Guess I'll find out in about 4 hours. Hopefully by then, I will not still be spitting out sea water!

[Cbaudhuin]

On shore as well.
Will sit back with a Moose drool and a bowl of popcorn and watch Columbo.

[Ben B]

We are back on shore and it feels so good. We have been out of the game for several weeks due to work and school but Son took the bull by the horns tonight and made a solo solve. I’m hoping to have more time in the next weeks to jump back in the fun. I’ve missed being here.

[DrTom]

Solved, by gawd. Additional crew in port for the holiday, instrumental in the victory. Medals awarded posthaste.
Task complete, we can return to what is crucial. Adding ballast.
Piece o' leftover Apple Pie or Dutch Apple Pie?

IMG_6026.JPG

To heck with a mug, send me a PIE!!!

[DrTom]

Since it's still Thanksgiving weekend, and I need a bit of humor after the debacle I witnessed at UVA's football game this afternoon, I offer my favorite seasonal cartoon

Well that's pretty fowl....

[Joe Ross]

[Scott Lindholm]

Yeah, not even close again, BUT

Was traveling over Thanksgiving, bought this beer from the player who played the most games for the Bears. True story, Patrick Mannelly was their long snapper from 1998-2013, and this is his beer.

[Joe Ross]

Happy Thanksgiving to all you nice Muggles.

Solved and ashore as of early yesterday morning but I just realized that everything else I have to say this week is at least a very big nudge and potentially a

It’s been a challenging year but there is much to be thankful for including the nudges and coaching I have received here that have allowed me to tackle the meta more often than not. I may not be first down at the beach this week but then I wasn’t rushing to pass anyone on the way. All I can do is go forth, and long for the day that the trophy mug will be mine. When I reach that goal, post, I will, my mug shot sans face mask. For now I will just punt with this limerick.

Knowing the score
(Hint: It’s 7 points)

Once you iron out the grid, this week’s version
Will become a most welcome excursion
And you’ll find that the trick
To avoiding the kick
Is to make the suggested conversion

BTW, Go Bearcats!

I didn't see anything brushing up against a spoiler, above. Someone argued that "conversion" in the post suggested "Fourth Down," but a conversion involves getting a first down, or 'conversion' to a first down, where "to a first down" is implied. Although rarely said, first, second, and third downs are 'converted' to first downs. "Fourth down conversions (to first downs)" are rare, since a vast majority of fourth downs involve punting or attempting field goals rather than attempting to convert to first downs or touchdowns. "Third down conversion rates" are sometimes dicussed as measures of success for teams' offenses.

Apologies for the sportsing details, but this post was reported & its author also felt it might have contained a spoiler.

[Relic]

First successful meta in a month. Sunday morning I was ready to punt and for the first time asked for a nudge. I had been chasing "team player" thinking a player name from each team was hidden in the grid. 2 hours later I abandoned that idea.

I thought "fourth down" was significant but misapplied it twice, thinking it was an empty rabbit hole.

I then started chasing "itals" thinking Mike was pulling another pronunciation/phonetics play. After another fruitless hour, I wanted to call it,

but hell no

I came back to fourth down in desperation at 8:30 ET and got it right - I had earlier tried to apply the letters in grid order and got H-E-L-D-N-R-A. Ugh!

I thought what if I take the letters in visual order fro left to right, and VOILA!

This was a sneaky medium-difficult puzzle because of the red herrings.

Thankful for this group. I hope you guys have a great week. See you next weekend!