MGWCC #801 — “Sounds like Someone I Know”

[Joe Ross]

MGWCC #801 — Friday, October 6th, 2023 — “Sounds like Someone I Know”

THIS WEEK’S INSTRUCTIONS:

This week’s contest answer is a famous athlete.


Solve well, and be not led astray by words intended to deceive.

–Matt

I’m writing a weekly crossword for Merriam-Webster’s website. It’s a puzzle type called “The Missing Letter” that I created especially for the site: 25 entries in the grid are defined using their M-W dictionary definition, and these each begin with a different letter of the alphabet. The only one not represented each week is “The Missing Letter,” and you can enter to win a $25 gift certificate at their site. Check it out here.

WANT TO SUBSCRIBE TO MY CROSSWORD CONTEST?:
MGWCC is available only to subscribers at my Patreon page.
A subscription costs $3/month.

[docison]

Last 20% of MGWCC begins now! Not that hard but maybe a week 1.5 for a few specific reasons? Enjoyed as always - just submitted.

[Dr.Buttbeard]

Beamed at 14! Very satisfied!

[MikeyG]

On the board at 15! Might have taken a chance, but I wanted to see everything in its entirety, and I appreciated this one! Yeah, 1.25 or 1.5.

Hope we're having a great October!

Someone I know:

[Wendy Walker]

Hilarious, and I LOVED the in-joke! Don't worry, non-sports fans: if I've heard of this famous athlete, 65D you have, too.

[woozy]

Me waking up and realizing it's a week one: Oh, good, after last month I need something easy.
Me on reading the the prompt: Oh, ####!

And on completing the grid: Huh???

Okay, a bit of googling I have a good guess but... what the heck is the deal with ....?

EDIT: Okay, submitted my guess that feels very right. If I'm wrong I'll have the rare experience of utterly blowing a week one (I don't *think* I've ever done that before).

I suppose I can't claim I've solved it as I don't understand it but... my marriage can't take another weekend with my obsessing and stressing. So a quick submit.

EDIT 2: And there I am at #36. Now, just a weekend trying to figure out what is the hilarity and the in-joke of which Wendy refers.

[ajk]

Beamed after a kindly nudge that I was indeed pursuing the correct path. I feel like there's a snag that will temporarily delay more than a few people. Nothing wrong with it, just trickier than a normal week 1.

[schmidzy]

Sports AND numbers in parentheses! Definitely not my kind of a week 1.

I'm pretty sure I know the answer, but I'm not in a rush to be at the top of the board, so I think I'll sit here and keep stewing until it clicks.

Edit: Gave in and took a small nudge to find the step I skipped, thank you @SamKat9!

[SamKat9]

Figured what the answer would be, but it took me a little time to figure out how I was supposed to get there. Awaiting the beam.

Edit: #56

[Cinny]

Beamed at #60. Sent it in without verifying and was hoping I didn't break my streak!

[TMart]

I got it but I don't get it.

[Andrew Bradburn]

In the same boat with others in that I have an answer, but don't get how to be sure. I agree that numbers in parentheses is rare for a week 1.

[ChrisKochmanski]

Beamed!

I get how to get it, but it took me a while.

Nice!

[Bird Lives]

Beamed after a kindly nudge that I was indeed pursuing the correct path. I feel like there's a snag that will temporarily delay more than a few people. Nothing wrong with it, just trickier than a normal week 1.

But great timing. You should get a bonus point.

[TMart]

I got it but I don't get it.

Never mind, I see it now. Makes sense.

[boharr]

Beamed.

[Katiedid]

Beamed up. Fun and a little tricky for week one.

[woozy]

Hmm. The first part of the puzzle is easier than a week one but the second part of the puzzle I'd put as a week 3+ as it involves some arbitrary WAGging.

[KayW]

Beamed.

[DCBilly]

Found the snag, got un-snagged with some assistance, found the answer, and I think I also found the "inside joke" referenced previously.