Cryptoquote Spoiler – 12/27/16

“If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home.”   —   James Michener

(Sounds like a plan, Jimmy!  But, for me it’s more like fear the food and reject the religion, but that’s because I’m married to a Filipina.  Just gimme a six-pack, a bag of doodles or chips, and park my butt in front of the game, and I’m a happy camper.  I generally prefer dogs anyway.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

Jumble Spoiler – 12/27/16

Visual Description:  A royal appreciation.

NTKAH  =  THANK,  DEGNU  =  NUDGE,  MAREYC  =  CREAMY,  DASILM  =  DISMAL   —   Giving us:  THNUCEDMA

Clue/Question:  Once ranked #1 for 302 straight weeks, Roger Federer was – – –

Answer:  UNMATCHED

(Liz II and P-Phil always prefer the even-tempered, well-mannered, types of tennis players.  But, it’s usually been the bad boys who have made the sport grow.  Tennis had always been a staid, elitist sport that really didn’t register that much with the masses.  When the fiery Jimmy Connors came along many more people started to pay attention to the sport.  Of course, it didn’t hurt that he also had a public romance with the very lovely, and equally talented, Chrissy Evert.  Another famous hothead who made the sport grow was Ilie Nastase.  He had an awesome skill set, and was always entertaining.  John McEnroe was a much later hothead, who became famous for arguing and berating the refs and line judges, besides his great talent.  The British press nicknamed him “SuperBrat”.  Guys like Federer, Sampras, Becker, Laver, Chang and Lendl were all great champions, but the sport always grew more when the bad boys ruled the court.  Probably the best non-bad boy #1 to ever play is the currently #2 player, Novak Djokovic.  Instead of being a bad boy he is famous for clowning around and his all-around charm.  Wimbledon prefers the goody goody types.  They’re trying to maintain the tradition of the sport.

No new clue words today, but three of the jumbles came up as new.  We’ve seen “mareyc” before.  I thought they were all pretty challenging.  The answer letter layout was also a nifty jumble.  Great pun.  And a great likeness of the royal couple, and Roger, of course.  Lots of fun!  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR