Friday, July 29, 2011

Off-Day Puzzle #7: Solution

Stat. The answer to PCS Season IV Puzzle #7 is WALTER ALSTON.

First step, obviously, is to complete the drop quote (or "letter drop") puzzle, by figuring out through trial and error how the letters in each column populate the squares above. If you get it right, your completed grid should look like this:

Hidden in the grid are all ten Dodgers with retired numbers, each of whom has an additional word in between his first and last name. Arranged in order by retired number, they read as follows:

  • Pee Wee CONSIDER Reese
  • Tommy PLAYERS Lasorda
  • Duke FIRST Snider
  • Jim INITIALS Gilliam
  • Don SOSG Sutton
  • Walter FANTASY Alston
  • Sandy FOOTBALL Koufax
  • Roy WEEK Campanella
  • Jackie NINE Robinson
  • Don UPDATE Drysdale

In order, the extra words read CONSIDER PLAYERS FIRST INITIALS SOSG FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK NINE UPDATE.

Going back to last season's SoSG Fantasy Football (which is why, earlier in the week, I left the tag here so one could access all the updates from last season), the SoSG Fantasy Football Week 9 Update was actually written by yours truly, marking the only week of the season where Mr. LA Sports Czar had allowed me to do the update. And eight months ago, I am proud to say, I had embedded in my update post a secret message right out in the open. Planting the seeds, if you will, for the ripe fruit to be harvested at a later date...

Taking the first initials of the players mentioned reads:

  • Wes Welker
  • Akers
  • Lynch
  • Thomas Jones
  • Evans
  • Rodgers
  • Adrian Peterson
  • Larry Fitzgerald
  • Sevi Ajirotutu
  • Terrell Owens
  • Ochocinco
  • Nicks

Those players' first-referenced initials, in order, read out "WALTER ALSTON", the answer to the puzzle.

Congratulations to BCCSweet, QuadSevens, Jason, ubragg, and Mr. Customer for correct answers. Next puzzle, Thursday August 11 at 7a!

17 comments:

QuadSevens said...

This was a fun puzzle! I solved "football" first and was confused. Then I saw "Koufax" and I was off and running! Nice job planting that seed too Sax. Like I said before, you're a sneaky mofo!

Nostradamus said...

Jackie Robinson was the keystone for me, which is eminently satisfactory.

Loney Fan said...

Very clever Sax! Did you know what the puzzle was going to be when you planted the seed, or just the answer?

Fred's Brim said...

I don't like the off-day puzzles.
Not because they aren't good, but because I can't do any of them and they make me feel like an imbecile

Kyle Baker said...

If the puzzle didn't, something else would, FB. At least, that's my plight.

Steve Sax said...

@LoneyFan 8.36a: When I planted the seed eight months ago I wasn't sure how I was going to use it later. I'm pretty psyched that I even remembered it was there!

I do love engaging in the sneakiness however.

Steve Sax said...

In retrospect, the phrase "planting a seed eight months ago" could probably have been better worded.

I blame Ashley Fox.

(not for the seed planting, for the record)

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Nice work, Sax!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Thanks, Mr. LA SC!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

DAMMIT

Jason said...

The last time I planted a seed 8 months previous, I got a very disturbing phone call the following month.

I'm just saying.

Fernie V said...

Yeah FB, I am with you I stared at and nothing.

Kyle Baker said...

Nicely played, Jason.

Kyle Baker said...

@FernieV

Did you eventually achieve total enlightenment after staring at nothing?

#Nirvana

Fernie V said...

At db, no but the foo has a song with nirvana bassist, pretty cool song.

Kyle Baker said...

I love how you went from Buddhism to Foo Fighters, FV. Foo are near the concept of Nirvana to me, so that resonated!

Todd Etter said...

Brilliant job planting this so far in advance. Very nice!