"Close Calls"

A weekly meta crossword created by members of the forum. Difficulty levels will vary. Hints are usually available starting Wednesday, and solutions are posted on Sunday.
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Al Sisti
Posts: 2067
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 1:28 pm
Location: Whitesboro NY

"Close Calls"

#1

Post by Al Sisti »

Good morning Muggles!

This week’s meta is called “Close Calls,” and I’m giving it a week 2 difficulty rating. Please submit your answer on Crosshare, or PM me your solution by 10 PM on Saturday, and as has become the custom, I’ll post a couple snapshots of a leaderboard during the week. Feel free to PM me for nudges, but try to stick with it for a couple days first. If nothing else, there’s always Nudge Wednesday.

One correct solver will be chosen at random and will receive an item of his/her choice from my swag bag (a Blarney Rebel Band CD, a Utica Club keepsake, or a $15 donation to a charity of your choice).

"Close Calls" crosshare

"Close Calls" PUZ

"Close Calls" PDF

"Close Calls" spreadsheet


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If you enjoy solving on Crosshare, help keep the site running by donating a few bucks.
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Bob cruise director
Cruise Director
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Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 2:38 pm
Location: Any golf course within 500 miles of Littleton MA

#2

Post by Bob cruise director »

Printed and just started. I can already feel @Wendy Walker trembling between the title, hint and 6D plus probably a few others.

LOL
Bob Stevens
Cruise Director
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boharr
Moderator
Posts: 3208
Joined: Fri Sep 06, 2019 8:57 am
Location: Westchester, NY

#3

Post by boharr »

The baseball knocked the cat off the couch! Thanks for a fun one, Al.
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ky-mike
Posts: 1987
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 4:22 pm
Location: Near Louisville Ky

#4

Post by ky-mike »

Nice one, Al. Tough-ish grid (for me).

(confirmed on crosshare.)
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Cinny
Posts: 820
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Location: Minoa, NY
Contact:
Contact Cinny

#5

Post by Cinny »

Off the couch. Enjoyable Monday meta. Thanks!
Cindy Heisler
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KayW
Moderator
Posts: 3273
Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2019 12:10 am
Location: Chicago

#6

Post by KayW »

:crossed_swords: :rabbit: :couch_and_lamp: Fun one and very clever. Thanks, Al! I thought this would be beyond my 24A but I was able to get it.
Contest Crosswords Combating Cancer (CCCC) is a bundle of 16 metapuzzles created to help raise money for cancer-related charities. It is available at CrosswordsForCancer.com.
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Wendy Walker
Posts: 1720
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 7:44 pm
Location: Unionville, PA

#7

Post by Wendy Walker »

Solved despite @Bob cruise director 's trepidation!
Good luck, fellow Muggles!
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lbray53
Posts: 1221
Joined: Fri May 08, 2020 8:34 am
Location: Elkhorn, WI

#8

Post by lbray53 »

I knocked the kitten ball off the couch.

I used to play co-ed softball with a 16" ball, called a softball. No gloves were used and the ball actually got soft with play. Bats were limited to 26 inches. It was a fun game on a small field because you could not hit it very far.

NO CATS WERE HARMED!
My avatar proves that it is sometimes better to be lucky than good!
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ChrisKochmanski
Posts: 2198
Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 9:51 pm
Location: Saline, Michigan

#9

Post by ChrisKochmanski »

OTC!

And still chuckling over many of Al’s clues.
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BarbaraK
Posts: 2614
Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 2:37 pm
Location: Virginia

#10

Post by BarbaraK »

Despite my misgivings when I saw the subject matter, I am off the couch. As usual with Al’s puzzles, there are so many layers, I won’t be surprised if I missed something, but the parts I found are quite elegant.

26 down gets me every time.
If you want help with a meta, feel free to PM me. The more specific you are about what you have and what you want, the more likely I can help without spoiling.

(And if I help you win a mug, I’ll be especially delighted.)
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DrTom
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Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
Location: Jacksonville, FL

#11

Post by DrTom »

Al has pitched a perfect game as usual. Off the couch and feeling batty.

EDIT: I looked again at the meta and saw the inherent brilliance...Al, we are not worthy.
Last edited by DrTom on Mon Jun 12, 2023 1:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
NUDGES!I am always willing to give nudges where needed; metas should be about fun, not frustration. Send me what you have done so far because often you are closer than you think!
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hcbirker
Posts: 2017
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 7:24 pm
Location: Studio City, CA

#12

Post by hcbirker »

Off the couch! What fun Al! Thanks!
Heidi
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michaelm
Posts: 493
Joined: Fri Jan 24, 2020 3:21 pm

#13

Post by michaelm »

Off the bench after a striking meta.
Thanks Al!
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MatthewL
Posts: 766
Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2020 11:57 am
Location: Atlanta, GA

#14

Post by MatthewL »

Off the couch! Great puzzle, Al!
Matthew
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Meg
Posts: 2165
Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 1:41 pm
Location: St. Petersburg, FL

#15

Post by Meg »

OTC. Crosshare confirmed I got the meta, but there seems to be more here than meets the eye. Looking forward to Al's reveal.
Check out and support http://CrosswordsForCancer.com.
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Schmeel
Posts: 1688
Joined: Sun Mar 29, 2020 2:38 pm

#16

Post by Schmeel »

Off the couch.
Good one. Thanks for the puzzle!
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Qmark
Posts: 303
Joined: Thu Aug 25, 2022 4:33 pm
Location: Ottawa, Canada

#17

Post by Qmark »

Off the couch...thanks Al!
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rjy
Posts: 1032
Joined: Fri Oct 08, 2021 12:52 pm
Location: Gaithersburg, MD

#18

Post by rjy »

Allllllllmost asked for a nudge, but heeded Al's request to stick with it, and things finally revealed themselves. Vacating the couch with just 45m left in the work day ;)

Like @Meg, appears more than meets the eye here, so interested in the post-game discussion... But very fun challenge, Al!
Ray
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MarkWoychick
Site Admin
Posts: 612
Joined: Sun Jun 13, 2021 6:15 pm
Location: Boise, ID

#19

Post by MarkWoychick »

OTC - great clueing and mechanism, Al. I'm glad I did the grid on Crosshare - had to backspace/re-enter for many of the words.
Contest Crosswords Combating Cancer (CCCC) is a bundle of 16 contest-style (meta) crosswords that we've created to help raise money for cancer-related organizations - get the bundle at http://crosswordsforcancer.com
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whimsy
Posts: 2785
Joined: Sun Jun 21, 2020 9:51 am
Location: Hopkinton MA

#20

Post by whimsy »

Untitledzzoffnow.png
Off now. (I just liked the scenario.)

I had a close enough call to get to the answer but initially missed some of the reasons why.

Regarding the somewhat challenging grid: Lots of entertaining clues, and while a couple other constructors may be the master of the punny clue, I believe Al is the master of the slightly misdirecting, somewhat ambiguous, but perfectly fair clue!

Thanks for the fun puzzle, Al!
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