Here’s a text conversation with son Sam this morning:
Sam: The party at the Finkelman’s on Sunday: Is it fancy?
Me: Not at all. Dress for comfort.
Sam: Okay.
Me: Unless you’re chosen Pumpkin King. Then you’ll need a pumpkin suit. I’ll let you know.
Sam: Yikes! I think someone else should have the honor.
Me: No one has ever walked away from it. Don’t disgrace the family.
Sam: Okay, I’ll pack one just in case.
No one was surprised that ALY Raisman nailed her landing today in the grid at 32 across. She still has it, despite retiring from gymnastics three years ago at age 25. After competing in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, she is the third-most decorated U.S. gymnast in Olympic history behind Shannon Miller and Simone Biles, with six medals.
In the 2012 Olympics in London, in the floor final, Aly placed first with a score of 15.600, becoming the first American woman to win a gold medal on floor. Raisman, who is Jewish, performed to the tune of “Hava Nagila,” and dedicated her floor routine to the 11 Israeli Olympians killed by Palestinian terrorists at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.
In November 2017, Raisman came forward as one of the many victims sexually abused by the former Olympic team physician, Larry Nassar, starting at the age of 15. She was one of victims who read impact statements at Nassar’s sentencing.
Aly is single.
The NYT today had a feature listing many of the obits from 2022. In January alone, we lost Sidney Poitier (94), Ronnie Spector of the Ronettes (78), Don Maynard, HOF receiver for the Jets (86), Meat Loaf (the rocker)(74), Dwayne Hickman (described as TV’s “lovelorn” Dobie Gillis)(87), and the exquisite Yvette Mimieux (80). How depressing to read about the famous personalities who died during the year. I wrote a letter to The Times suggesting that next year they list the famous people who are born in 2023 instead. (Wait, what?)
“For every kiss you give me, I’ll give you three.” Here are The Ronettes singing “Be My Baby” back in 1964 (Ouch!), followed by a shot of the young Yvette Mimieux, who was of French and Mexican descent, and who was nominated for three Golden Globe awards during her acting career.
Today’s puzzle was by the wily veteran constructor Brendan Emmett Quigley, who is approaching his 200th NYT puzzle. He was certainly up to his tricks in this one. The clue for SIPHON at 38A was “Secretly pass gas?” (Tee hee.) And his great clue for TV SETS was “Objects thrown out of hotel windows, in a rock ‘n’ roll cliche.” A “metric unit equal to 100 square meters” turned out to be ARE, which was new to me. You may be more familiar with “hectare,” which is 100 ares. And did you know that the world capital whose name means “elephant trunk” in Arabic is KHARTOUM? Well, now you do. You never know when it will come up.
How about “Place to get a platza treatment?” Huh? The answer was SAUNA, but what’s a platza treatment? It’s Russian. You lie on the hottest level of the sauna and are pummeled with a broom-like venik made of oak leaves soaked in olive-oil soap. Then you jump into a cold pool or shower. It opens your pores and removes toxins, dead skin, and $40. At least that’s the cost at the Russia and Turkish Bath House on E. 10th St., in NYC.
“‘The Spoonful of Milk’ painter, 1912” was the clue at 14A, and the answer was CHAGALL. Here’s the painting:
Barbara S. stated that she was aware that Chagall often included Jewish themes in his work and was wondering (as a non-Jew) if milk held any special place in Judaism. MBR responded that the Holy Land was referred to as the “Land of Milk and Honey.” I added the following to the discussion:
“A fundamental tenet of Judaism is the forcing of food onto someone who could probably do without it. Chagall employs milk in this painting, but it could just as well be some lox or a nice blintz.”
“MLB great with a famous ‘unbreakable’ streak, familiarly,” at 39A was JOE D, for Joe DiMaggio. The commentariat was all in a fuss over whether he was actually called “Joe D.” Several felt it was just Joltin’ Joe. Well it was certainly Joltin’ Joe but it was also certainly Joe D. No question about it. (Hrummmmph.) The “streak” is his 56-game hitting streak, i.e., he got at least one hit in 56 consecutive games. It ran from May 15 to July 16 in 1941. The previous record was 44 games by Baltimore Oriole Wee Willie Keeler. Keeler’s record had held for over 40 years (since 1897). Keeler was called Wee Willie because he was only 5′ 4″, and 140 pounds. He was a lifetime .341 hitter, and is in the Hall of Fame.
Getting back to Joe D, the starting pitcher opposing the Yankees in the 40th game of the streak for the Philadelphia Athletics was Johnny Babich, whom DiMaggio had faced during a 61-game hitting streak he put together in the minors. (Wow!) Babich told the local press that he would end DiMaggio’s streak by getting him out in his first plate appearance and not giving him any hittable pitches afterwards. Babich induced a popout in DiMaggio’s first at-bat, and in the third inning started him off with three unhittable pitches. The fourth pitch by Babich was well outside the strike zone, but DiMaggio lunged at it and guided the ball between Babich’s legs; he ended up with a double which he said left Babich “white as a sheet.” DiMaggio later referred to this as “the most satisfying hit of the streak.” His last at-bat (ending the streak) was against Jim Bagby, Jr., who was on in relief for the Indians. After the streak ended, DiMaggio got hits in the next 15 games.
The last player to hit .400 was Ted Williams (.406), and it was also in 1941. But DiMaggio was named MVP due to the streak. (He hit .357 that year.) Since 1941, the closest anyone has come was Pete Rose in 1978, tying Keeler for second place at 44. Here’s an index card signed by Joe D. from my collection.
And here’s the opening verse from Be My Baby by the Ronettes:
The night we met I knew I needed you so
And if I had the chance I’d never let you go
So won’t you say you love me
I’ll make you so proud of me
We’ll make ’em turn their heads every place we go.
Yes we will! Thanks for stopping by.
The Wellington Files 