Hello Loneliness ...

by George Barany and Steve Bachman

This "late-week level" sports-themed puzzle (15x16) was released on August 23, 2014 in response to fast-breaking news. After completing the puzzle (spoiler), learn more about the puzzle's various aspects, including an explanation of its title and the unexpected graphic to the right, by clicking here for our "midrash." 

Click here to view or download the puzzle in PDF format; here to download it as a puz file; here to download it as an ipuz file [requires the free Puzzazz app to solve]; here to solve the puzzle interactively (thanks to Jim Horne); here for the solution. We thank Tim Croce, Brent Hartzell, and Martin Herbach for test solving the puzzle and for their useful suggestions that sharpened some of the clues.

If you want to tell others about this particular page, refer them to
http://tinyurl.com/lonelinesspuz

More puzzles here (all), here (current events), here (sports), and here (tributes).

E-mail barany@umn.edu to be added to a bcc distribution list.