Solution to Evan Birnholz's April 13 crossword, ‘Sure Thing'
Last week I wrote that I would have more to say about the 2025 American Crossword Puzzle Tournament and my talk at Crossword Con the day before. I do have more to say, but I'm going to postpone the full report about both events until next week because it's fairly long. The short story about the ACPT is that I finished in 38th place out of 787 solvers. How I ended up there was a real roller coaster, and again, I'll share that story next Sunday.
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Daily Mail
11 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Kelsey Plum explodes at WNBA refs over dark arts from rival players: 'I've got scratches all over my body'
Frustrated by a lack of calls from WNBA officials during the Los Angeles Sparks' double-overtime loss to the Golden State Valkyries, All-Star Kelsey Plum unleashed a profane tirade at refs on Monday night while acknowledging the fine she's likely to incur. 'I'm going to get fined for saying this, but I drive more than anyone in the league,' began Plum, who is in her first season with LA after winning two titles in Las Vegas. 'So, to shoot six free throws is f****ing absurd. I got scratches on my face, I got scratches on my body, and these guards on the other team get these ticky-tack fouls, and I'm sick of it. 'I get fouled like that on every possession,' she continued before referencing one teammate. Rickea [Jackson] gets fouled like that in the post all the time, and they don't call it. I don't know what else to do. It's really frustrating, though. 'There are multiple shots at the end of the game, either going into the third, into the fourth, where they're just coming out and just f***ing swinging, and they just don't call anything. I don't understand how that's... six free throws.' Plum wasn't done there. 'I'm playing 40 minutes, touching the paint on almost every play - it's absurd,' she said. 'It's absurd. So I'm saying I'll get fined for that, and that's fine, but I mean, and I needed to make more shots like late-game, but they're fouling the s*** out of me every single play. I'm very frustrated with that, and I'm sick of it. I'm sick of it. I don't know what I need to do. I've talked to the refs nice, I pray before the game, like, f***, I'm over it.' WNBA officiating has been under intense scrutiny since Indiana Fever sensation Caitlin Clark arrived in the league last season, igniting both league popularity and controversy over how the game is called. Some fans have accused WNBA refs of failing to protect Clark, while others claim she's benefitted more from officiating than any player. Last month, Fever coach Stephanie White criticized league officiating after a loss to Washington. "Obviously, I think we can get better in certain areas as far as how we call the game, consistency with how we call the game,' she said. 'Are we going to say that we want a free-flowing offensive game, or are we going to have tough, grind-out physical games? And whatever way it is, the players will adjust and coaches will adjust but we can't have it be one way one quarter and another way another quarter. "I don't think collectively as a whole the league has to step in and do something, I just think that there has to be some improvements in certain areas." Plum led all scorers with 24 points, and she came inches away from ending the game in regulation. The former University of Washington star had a good look in the paint just before the buzzer, driving into the lane off of a pump-fake from the top of the key. Unfortunately, her floater fell short, and Golden State's Kayla Thornton secured the rebound to ensure overtime. Thornton and Tami Fagbenle each recorded a double-double while leading the visiting Valkyries to an 89-81 overtime win over LA on Monday. Thornton put an exclamation point on her 18-point, 11-rebound performance in the final minute of the extra period when she came up with a board in traffic while Golden State nursed an 84-81 lead. On the ensuing possession, Los Angeles defenders attempted to trap Carla Leite off of a pick-and-roll. Thornton popped to the left wing and was wide-open for a clutch 3-pointer when Leite found her with a high-arcing pass. Thornton's triple with 38.6 seconds left effectively put away a second consecutive win for the expansion Valkyries (4-5). Fagbenle finished with 14 points, a game-high 13 rebounds, four steals and four blocked shots, while Janelle Salaun led Golden State with 21 points. Los Angeles (3-7) managed just one field goal in the extra frame, which came on a Plum jumper. Plum also dished a game-high seven assists. Dearica Hamby was the only other Sparks player to score in double figures, posting 20 points. She added a team-high nine rebounds. Five Golden State scorers reached double figures, with Leite going for 15 points off the bench and Monique Billings adding 10 in reserve duty. Veronica Burton added another nine points for Golden State, with seven coming at the free-throw line. Burton's lone made field goal came early in the overtime to give Golden State the lead for good after Los Angeles struck first on an Azura Stevens free throw. The Valkyries limited Stevens to just six points on 1-of-7 shooting from the floor. The contest was part of the Commissioner's Cup, with Golden State improving to 2-2 while Los Angeles slipped to 1-2.
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Mississippi State baseball transfer portal tracker: Who's in, who's out for Brian O'Connor
This story was updated to add new information. Mississippi State baseball hired has its new coach and roster moves are already being made in the transfer portal. Brian O'Connor was hired from Virginia on June 1. It was announced an hour after the MSU season ended in the Tallahassee Regional final and one day before the transfer portal opened. O'Connor replaces Chris Lemonis, who was fired on April 28. Advertisement The Clarion Ledger is keeping track of all MSU additions and subtractions to the baseball roster from the transfer portal. Who is transferring to Mississippi State OF Aidan Teel (Virginia) Teel committed to Mississippi State on June 7. He was a third-team All-ACC selection in 2025 and is ranked No. 177 as an MLB draft prospect. OF Vytas Valincius (Illinois) Valincius committed to Mississippi State on June 6. The All-Big Ten second-team selection in 2025 is the older brother of Tomas Valincius and batted .348, with seven home runs and 58 RBIs this season. INF/C Chone James (Virginia) James committed to Mississippi State on June 6. He made 15 starts last season, mainly at designated hitter, and batted .373 with 11 RBIs and no home runs. Advertisement OF James Nunnallee (Virginia) Nunnallee committed to Mississippi State on June 6. He made 40 starts as a freshman this season, batting .296 with one home run and 26 RBIs. P Tomas Valincius (Virginia) Valincius committed to Mississippi State on June 6. He was an All-ACC freshman-team selection in 2025, with a 6-1 record and 4.59 ERA in 12 starts and 13 appearances. Who is transferring out of Mississippi State P Bradley Loftin Loftin entered the transfer portal on June 9, according to D1Baseball. He did not appear in any games this season as a junior. Loftin was once a promising freshman, making five starts and seven appearances in 2023 with a 3.08 ERA. He only played in three games last season. Advertisement INF Lukas Buckner Buckner announced on June 7 that he's entering the transfer portal. The freshman played in 22 games with six starts and batted .289 with two RBIs. C/OF Ross Highfill Highfill entered the transfer portal on June 6, according to reports from On3 and 247Sports. He began the season as the starting catcher but lost his job to Joe Powell because of defensive issues. The junior from Madison then played sparingly as an outfielder. He batted .218 with three home runs and 20 RBIs this season. INF/C Steven Spalitta Spalitta entered the transfer portal on June 5, he told the Clarion Ledger. He played in 12 games this season as a backup with a .400 batting average, one home run and six RBIs. Advertisement P Kevin Mannell Mannell told the Clarion Ledger on June 5 that he has entered the transfer portal. He joined MSU this season from Cloud County Community College and had a 4.30 ERA and 2-0 record in 11 relief appearances. Mannell committed to Nebraska. P Robert Fortenberry Fortenberry told the Clarion Ledger on June 5 that he has entered the transfer portal. He came to MSU from Weatherford College and had an 11.12 ERA in six relief appearances. P Luke Dotson Dotson entered the transfer portal on June 4, according to D1Baseball. The sophomore from Georgia was a key bullpen arm, with a 3.09 ERA in 18 relief appearances. Advertisement C Jackson Owen Owen entered the transfer portal on June 4, he told the Clarion Ledger. The senior from Starkville appeared in six games with one start this season. OF/P Nolan Stevens Stevens entered the transfer portal on June 4, he announced on X. He began the season as a starter in the outfield but got injured and fell out of favor when he returned. He batted .320 in 28 starts with four home runs and 21 RBIs, but his batting average dipped to .289 in conference play. Stevens, a sophomore from California, made two pitching appearances in relief and had a 7.71 ERA. Stevens committed to Oklahoma. MORE: How Brian O'Connor hire reaffirms Mississippi State as a top program in college baseball Advertisement OF Michael O'Brien O'Brien entered the transfer portal on June 4, he announced on X. The sophomore was MSU's backup center fielder. He batted .190 in 37 games with four starts, two RBIs and seven runs. SS Dylan Cupp Cupp entered the portal on June 2, according to On3. He was the MSU starting shortstop to begin the season but lost the job to Sawyer Reeves. The sophomore batted .282 with one home run and 15 RBIs in 31 starts this season. P Gavin Black Black entered the transfer portal on May 28, according to 64Analytics. He made one appearance this season in February with one inning as a reliever. He joined MSU last season from Northwest Florida State College and had a 5.93 ERA in 12 appearances. Advertisement OF Landis Davila Davila told the Clarion Ledger on May 28 that he has entered the transfer portal. The freshman from Farragut, Tennessee, played in only six games, with no starts. He batted 1-for-6, the one hit being an RBI single. Mississippi State player who've said they aren't transferring Some players have announced publicly that they will not be entering the transfer portal: P Ryan McPherson P Dane Burns 3B Ace Reese P Charlie Foster CF Bryce Chance RF Reed Stallman P Ben Davis Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@ and follow him on X @sklarsam_. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State baseball transfer portal tracker: Who's in, out
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Oilers Raise Concerns About Officiating and Panthers' Actions on Stuart Skinner
Oilers Raise Concerns About Officiating and Panthers' Actions on Stuart Skinner originally appeared on Athlon Sports. As the Stanley Cup Final heads to Florida tied 1-1, frustration is growing in the Edmonton Oilers' camp over the Panthers' repeated contact with goaltender Stuart Skinner. Advertisement After two incidents involving Florida forward Sam Bennett in the crease, Edmonton's defensemen are openly questioning how much physicality is too much and where the NHL will set the line. Bennett comes with a track record this postseason after elbowing Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz in Game 1 of the second round, knocking him out of the playoffs with a concussion. Bennett was involved in collisions with Skinner in Games 1 and 2 of the Stanley Cup Final. The Game 1 play resulted in a Florida goal, which Edmonton challenged unsuccessfully. While Bennett received a goalie interference penalty in Game 2, the Oilers still feel the standards remain unclear. "You can accidentally drop into (Skinner), but, at one point, enough's got to be enough," Mattias Ekholm said. "I was very surprised the goal in Game 1 stood. Advertisement "But it was good on the refs that they called Bennett on that play (in Game 2)." Skinner briefly required medical attention after the Game 2 collision but was able to finish the game, and the Oilers didn't retaliate. "Being a leader is understanding the situation," Ekholm said about the lack of a physical response by the Oilers. "Not doing that — we actually scored on that power play, which we probably wouldn't have on a four-on-four situation. "It's a fine line. We don't want to take punishment from anybody. I'm not saying that. But you've got to read the situation and be cognizant of, 'Has there been a penalty called? Has there not? What can help our team the most?'" Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett collides with Edmonton Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm and goaltender Stuart Tychnowicz-Imagn Images Evan Bouchard also acknowledged the challenges of policing the crease while avoiding penalties themselves. Advertisement "There's definitely a fine line," Bouchard said. "They definitely do like to teeter with it." Bennett, meanwhile, didn't believe the Game 2 penalty against him was the right call. 'I was pushed, and then I think the goalie kicked out my heel,' Bennett said. 'So, I didn't agree with that one, but I'll move on from that.' Game 3 begins at 8 p.m. ET Monday in Sunrise, Florida. Related: Sam Bennett's Two-Word Reaction to Stuart Skinner Penalty Question Related: Oilers Coach Sends Clear Message on Stuart Skinner After Game 2 Loss This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
