November 19, 2022

Title: THREE SISTERS

Constructor: Erik Agard

Editor: Erik Agard

Note about today's puzzle: There seems to be a problem with the delivery of today's puzzle, similar to what we experienced September 27, 2022. I was able to finally access the puzzle on The Puzzle Society platform (but you need a subscription). Hopefully that issue will get resolved soon!

Theme Answers:

CAPRICORN (16A: Ambitious zodiac sign)

SPILL THE BEANS (31A: Let a secret slip)

HARDBALL SQUASH (51A: Court sport dominated by Sharif Khan in the 70s)

Theme synopsis: At the ends of the theme answers, we find the crops referred to as the THREE SISTERS by North American Indigenous peoples: CORN, BEANS, and SQUASH.

Things I learned:

• NBA ASG (35A: Event whose 2022 team captains were LeBron and KD (Abbr.)) The 2022 NBA All-Star Game (NBA ASG) was held on February 20, and hosted by the Cleveland Cavaliers. The team captained by LeBron James defeated the team captained by Kevin Durant, 163-160. Team LeBron has won five consecutive All-Star Games.
• HARDBALL SQUASH (51A: Court sport dominated by Sharif Khan in the 70s) I did not know this answer, but having identified the theme helped me figure it out. HARDBALL SQUASH is sometimes referred to as the "American version" of SQUASH, a sport played in a four-walled court. Sharif Khan is considered to be one of the greatest HARDBALL SQUASH players of all time. A book about his life is titled, The Sheriff of SQUASH: The Life and Times of Sharif Khan Legendary SQUASH Champion.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• DREAM YOGA (14A: Tantric practice also known as milam) According to Yogapedia, "DREAM YOGA is a form of lucid dreaming that awakens inner, spiritual consciousness, but it goes beyond just lucid dreaming." DREAM YOGA has roots in Tibetan Buddhism.
• CAPRICORN (16A: Ambitious zodiac sign) People born between December 21 and January 20 have the zodiac sign of CAPRICORN. Ambitious, organized, and goal-oriented are words used to describe CAPRICORNs. 
• TONES (17A: Vietnamese has six of them) In the Vietnamese language, as in other tonal languages, various TONES are used to distinguish meanings of words.
• ELDER (26A: Tribal knowledge keeper) The ELDER might keep knowledge about when to plant CORN, BEANS, and SQUASH, perhaps. Another nice theme tie-in.
• BABOON (27A: Monkey in the Old World family) The Old World monkeys are the largest family of primates. The family includes BABOONs, macaques, and red colobus monkeys.
• TOOK ROOT (7D: Became established) A bonus theme answer! When CORN, BEANS, and SQUASH were planted together and TOOK ROOT, all three crops benefited. The CORN served as a trellis for the BEANS. The roots of the BEANS fixed nitrogen and the plants served as a support for the CORN. The SQUASH shaded the ground, keeping the soil moist and reducing weeds. 
• SHOVEL PASS (10D: Football throw named after a digging tool) A SHOVEL PASS is a short PASS from a quarterback to a receiver directly in front of him. More importantly, this answer provides a SHOVEL for planting CORN, BEANS, and SQUASH.

Geography review:

• KEA (19A: Mauna ___, Hawaii's highest point) Mauna KEA is a dormant volcano on the island of Hawaii, one of five volcanoes that form the island. It is a bit higher than its neighboring volcano, Mauna Loa.
• SAO (25A: ___ Tome and Principe) SÃO Tomé and Príncipe is an island country consisting of island groups around the two main islands of SÃO Tomé and Príncipe. The islands are in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western coast of Central Africa (about 160 and 190 miles off the coast of Gabon). The capital of SÃO Tomé and Príncipe is SÃO Tomé.
• TURTLE (56A: North America, aka ___ Island) TURTLE Island is the name used by some Indigenous people to refer to North America. The nomenclature arose out of creation stories in indigenous folklore. There is also an explanation that the shape of North America resembles a TURTLE. 
• ARABIA (2D: Saudi ___) Saudi ARABIA is a country in Western Asia occupying the majority of the Arabian Peninsula. The capital of Saudi ARABIA is Riyadh.
• NYC (6D: The Big Apple, for short) The Big Apple is one of New York City's (NYC) nicknames. Another nickname for NYC is The City That Never Sleeps.
• NEB (29D: Omaha's state (Abbr.)) Omaha is the most populous city in Nebraska (NEB). It is located along the Missouri River on the Nebraska-Iowa border. 

This is a great theme, elevated by so many bonuses answers: TOOK ROOT, SHOVEL PASS, ELDER, and TURTLE Island. Thank you, Erik, for this puzzle that was a fabulous way to begin my Saturday.