It is Monday, and we are looking at an easy puzzle with some semi-tricky clues centered upon a specific name: Pete. You may know someone named Pete; he may be your father, son, friend or partner. If you do, tell them the NYT Crossword of Jan. 26 presents a subtle wordplay with their name!
Actually, all the “Petes” in the grid are famous people: a baseball player, a musician, and a comedian. Before diving into today’s theme, can you guess these celebrities? Let me know in the comments!
17-Across is the first “Pete” question: Classic flowering locale adjacent to the White House [baseball star]. The answer is ROSE GARDEN. Pay close attention to the “baseball star” hint in brackets. As a former member of the Cincinnati Reds known for his aggressive style, our star is Pete Rose.
Section 29-Across suddenly jumps into the world of music: Grammy Award that’s good for laughs? [1960s rock musician]. in 2024, the winner of BESTCOMEDYALBUM (Best Comedy Album) was Dave Chappelle for The Dreamer album. But where is the Pete? Look at the bracketed hint again: 1960s rock musician. Like the previous clue, half of Pete’s full name is hidden in the answer. Since it is not “Pete Comedy,” it must be Pete Best, the original drummer for the Beatles!
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46-Across comes along the last Pete: North Carolina educational institution [former “S.N.L.” cast member]. That Institution name is DAVIDSONCOLLEGE (Davidson College). This one is quite straightforward: the name is Pete, he’s a comedian and his surname is in the answer. Pete Davidson is the star here, the famous American comedian whose career took off on Saturday Night Live.
Section 60-Across is the revealer of the entire theme: Athletic trifectas … or a phonetic hint to the starts of 17-, 29- and 46-Across. Pat Riley (then head of the Los Angeles Lakers) actually trademarked the phrase “Three-Peat” in 1988 when the team was chasing its third consecutive championship. “Three Peats” sounds exactly like “Three Petes,” a clever phonetic wordplay for a Monday morning!
Did the Three-Peat pun catch you off guard, or did you fill in the Petes immediately? Drop your fastest completion time in the comments below!
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