Theme - The unifier says it all, so let's start there.
38. Cautionary workplace axiom ... or a hint to the starts of the answers to starred clues: SAFETY FIRST. A statement advising caution to prevent accidents and injuries. The word SAFETY combines with the beginning of each theme answer to yield an in-the-language phrase.
16. *Old bowling alley employee: PIN SETTER. Before there were automatic pin setting machines, this job was done by hand, and it was dangerous. A SAFETY PIN is a pin with a point that is bent back to the head and is held in a guard when closed.
23. *Pass prevention strategy: ZONE DEFENSE. In football, a strategy in which defensive players are responsible for certain areas of the field to deter passing into that area. A SAFETY ZONE is a marked area at or near a roadway for pedestrians, such as a bus stop.
50. *Bad homes for critics?: GLASS HOUSES. Figuratively, a position in which one's vulnerabilities with regard to a certain issue are exposed, used as an admonition to avoid hypocrisy. SAFETY GLASS is a type of product designed to resist breakage, or be less likely to cause serious injury when broken. I spent the majority of my professional life dealing with it, and could go on at great length, but will spare you all of that
61. *One-on-one golf competition: MATCH PLAY. A type of play in which the score is determined by the number of holes won rather than the total number of strokes. A SAFETY MATCH is one that will only light when struck against a specific surface.
Hi Gang, JazzBumpa on duty to keep up all safe today. Let's see what hazards this puzzle presents.
Across:
1. "... where the sun / Came peeping in at __": Thomas Hood: MORN. That's starting the day off right.5. Willie Mays, twice: MVP. Most Valuable Player - an honor bestowed upon an individual for outstanding performance.
8. Bowler's test: SPLIT. A situation where the first ball of a frame knocks down the head pin, but leaves standing two or more non-adjacent pins.
13. Carpet calculation: AREA. Total amount of floor to be covered.
14. China setting: ASIA. The continent.
15. Soccer star Rossi: PAOLO. [b 1956] His career spanned from 1973 to 1987. He is regarded as one of the best Italian players of all time.
18. Cry of dismay: OY VEY. From German, via Yiddish. The English equivalent is "Woe is me."
19. Country singer Womack: LEE ANN. [b1966]
22. Part of ESL: Abbr.: ENGlish as a second language.
28. Editor's change of heart: STET. Indication that a correction or alteration should be ignored.
30. "I agree!": AMEN. An utterance meaning "So be it."
31. It's north of Afr.: EUR. The continents of Africa and Europe.
32. Not very exciting: HO-HUM. Boring.
35. Seasickness symptom: NAUSEA. Stomach upset with an inclination to vomit.
40. Elk: WAPITI. From the Shawnee language.
42. Pre-discount prices: LISTS. Manufacturers' suggested retail prices
43. Not well: ILL. Sick
44. Dollop: GLOB. A lump of a semi-liquid substance.
46. Pacino's voice, at times: RASP. Rough talk, talked roughly.
55. Golf standard: PAR. The number of strokes a first-class played is expected to require to complete a hole.
56. Deal with: SEE TO.
57. Capitol feature: CUPOLA. A dome.
59. Like four Sandy Koufax games: NO HIT. A complete game in which the pitcher give up no hits to the opposing team.
64. It's good in Chile: BUENO. Translation into Spanish
65. Agree with: ECHO. Repeat the same thing.
66. Shoppe modifier: OLDE.
67. Shakespearean forest: ARDEN. A wooded area in Warwickshire, Eng.
69. Fly high: SOAR. Flew so high my arms are sore
Down:
1. Breakfast condiment sources: MAPLES. Syrup suppliers.
2. Get one's bearings: ORIENT. Align or position something relative to defined reference points.
3. Go back on a promise: RENEGE. From medieval Latin meaning to deny.
4. Org. in the biodrama "Hidden Figures": NASA. National Aeronautic and Space Administration. Tells the story of the African-American women who made outstanding contributions to the space program, while dealing with oppressive sex and race discrimination.
5. WY winter hrs.: MST. Mountain Standard Time.
6. Compete: VIE. Strive for victory or superiority.
7. Pre-Rose Bowl tradition: PARADE.
8. Many an "SNL" skit: SPOOF. satirical skit
9. Two-time U.S. Open winner Stewart: PAYNE.
10. Illicit rendezvous site: LOVE NEST.
Close enough
12. Play (with): TOY. A verb that looks like a noun. You can TOY with a TOY.
14. 53 for I, e.g.: AT. NO. The Atomic Number for Iodine.
24. Astro's finish?: NAUT. They didn't quite get to the World Series, so, yeah - they're finished But, sorry, this is a really ugly clue for an affix.
25. Harris of country: EMMY LOU.
27. Stat for Justin Verlander: ERA. Earned Run Average. JV had a series of injuries this year, the most recent requiring Tommy John surgery, which he had about 3 weeks ago. He only pitched 6 innings this year, and will miss the 2021 season.
29. Spicy cuisine: THAI. Available in a variety of heat levels. I like to get something made with coconut milk.
33. Time and again, to Yeats: OFT. Often, to me.
34. Driver's license datum: HEIGHT. Not my first thought, but there it is.
36. Poetic verb: ART. [archaic] As in thou ART . . . [fill in the blank.]
37. Cold War letters: USSR. Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Our foes in those days, and the Russians still to this day.
38. Made waves?: SPLASHED. Moved water with your hands or feet.
39. Slight fabrications: FIBS. At what point does a FIB become a lie?
40. Freak (out): WIG. Go ape.
41. Every bit: ALL. The whole enchilada.
45. Rose ominously: LOOMED. Appeared in an impressively great form as an impending occurrence, usually in a dangerous or threatening manner.
47. Swing era Harlem hot spot: APOLLO. Read about it here.
48. Tea since 1892: SALADA. An innovation in foil packaging preserved freshness and a more uniform flavor. This lead to great commercial success in the early 1900's.
49. Supplication: PRAYER. Petition or entreaty from a position of humility.
51. River to the English Channel: SEINE. It is 482 miles long and drains most of northern France.
52. Resolute about: SET ON. Bound and determined, as the old phrase had it.
53. Danish shoe brand: ECCO. It was founded in 1963, and now produces other leather goods.
54. NFL defensive end Ndamukong __: SUH. [b 1987] He has played for the Lions, Dolphins and Rams, and is currently with the Buccaneers.
58. Med. plan options: PPOS. Preferred Provider Organizations. A PPO is a type of managed care program of medical service providers that offers reduced rates to clients.
59. Home to Kings: Abbr.: NBA. In the National Basketball Association, the Sacramento Kings finished 12th in the Western Division
60. "__ Gang": OUR.
62. Versatile card: ACE. Can be the highest or lowest card in various games.
63. "Much appreciated," in texts: THX. Thank you!
Cool regards!
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