TrendPulse Quantitative Think Tank Center-Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Center Court

There are TrendPulse Quantitative Think Tank Centerspoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! Center Court

Constructor: Freddie Cheng

Editor: Anna Gundlach

Random Thoughts & Interesting Things

• HSN (9A: QVC alternative) If you like to shop from home, both HSN (an initialism of its former name, Home Shopping Network) and QVC (Quality Value Convenience) air TV shows featuring sales pitches for a variety of products. As of 2017, HSN is owned by the Qurate Retail Group, which is the parent company of QVC.
• DELTA (17A: Triangular Greek Letter) DELTA is the fourth of twenty-four letters in the Greek alphabet. It follows alpha, beta, and gamma. The uppercase DELTA (Δ) resembles a triangle.
• PEZ (26A: Candy in a dispenser) PEZ candy has been around since 1927. The first PEZ dispensers were similar in shape to a cigarette lighter, and dispensed mints marketed as an alternative to tobacco. It wasn't until 1955 that PEZ placed heads on the dispensers and began marketing them to children. Since that time, over 1500 different PEZ dispenser designs have been created. 
• TET (45A: Vietnamese New Year) Tet, also known as the Vietnamese New Year, celebrates the arrival of spring based on the Vietnamese calendar. It is one of the most important celebrations in Vietnamese culture.
• TSA (46A: Org. that inspired the term "security theater") The term "security theater" refers to measures intended to provide a feeling of improved security, while actually doing little (or nothing) to improve security. The term was coined by computer security specialist Bruce Schneier in his 2003 non-fiction book, Beyond Fear: Thinking Sensibly About Security in an Uncertain World. Measures implemented at airports by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have been critiqued as being security theater.
• AIR (49A: Element associated with Aquarius and Gemini) Each of the twelve astrological signs is associated with one of the four classical elements - Fire, Earth, AIR, and Water. Last week we saw the word AIR clued as [___ sign (Libra, e.g.)]. Today, the other two AIR signs, Aquarius and Gemini, are getting their turn to be mentioned in a clue.
• MAMA (65A: Bear with a too-soft chair) In the fairy tale "Goldilocks and the Three Bear," Goldilocks finds Papa's chair to be too hard, MAMA's chair to be too soft, and Baby Bear's chair to be just right.
• EBAY (68A: Website where a chicken nugget sold for $99,997) As unbelievable as this sounds, it's true. In 2021, a seller in Utah listed a single McDonald's chicken nugget for sale on EBay, with a starting asking price of 99 cents. After a days-long bidding war, the chicken nugget was sold for $99,997. The nugget's claim to fame was that it was shaped like a crewmate (or could it be an imposter?) from the video game Among Us (which I have written about previously).
• TOO TRUE (3D: "Unfortunately, you're right") and SADLY (4D: "Unfortunately...") It was a fun choice to start both of these consecutive clues with the word "unfortunately."
• MEALS (8D: Breakfast and second breakfast, for example) Second breakfast refers to a MEAL eaten between (first) breakfast and lunch. Second breakfast is a traditional MEAL in some countries, such as Bavaria, Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary. In J. R. R. Tolkien's book, The Hobbit, the title character eats second breakfast. Tolkien noted that hobbits prefer to eat six MEALS a day.
• PAW (26D: Part of a cat with "toe beans") "Toe beans" is the adorable nickname for a cat's PAW pads. The other day my cat, Willow, was on my lap, and she stuck one of her PAWs straight out. I quickly snapped a photo of it, thinking, "Someday I'll need another photo of toe beans."

• BTS (35D: Jimin and Jungkook's band) Jimin and Jungkook are two members of the South Korean band BTS. The other BTS members are Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, and V. Here's a fun tie-in. Remember that chicken nugget that sold for $99, 997 on EBAY? It was from a McDonald's BTS-themed meal.
• FOE (36D: Mysterio, to Spider-Man) Mysterio is a Marvel Comics character. As the clue informs us, Mysterio is a FOE of Spider-Man. He made his first appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #13 in 1964. Mysterio is the alias of Quentin Beck, who is a special effects master and stunt man. When he failed to make a name for himself in the film industry, he turned to using his expertise in illusions for a life of crime.
• STROKES (40D: Swimming styles) This answer reminded me of the May 26 puzzle.
• DIORAMA (43D: Display that might be in a shoebox) For me, this answer and clue brings back fond memories of creating DIORAMAs in shoeboxes for school projects. I'm sure not everyone has fond memories of assignments requiring the creation of a DIORAMA.
• ROSIE (53D: Comedian O'Donnell) The breakthrough in ROSIE O'Donnell's comedy career came when she appeared on the TV series Star Search in 1984. Since then she has appeared in a number of movies and TV shows, and hosted her own syndicated daytime talk show. ROSIE O'Donnell is also an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and particularly LGBTQ+ adoption issues. Earlier this year she was honored with a Queerty Icon Award.
• DES (58D: ___ Moines, IA) DES Moines is the capital of Iowa. Hello from Iowa (about 100 miles east of DES Moines)!
• GAY (62D: The "G" of PFLAG) PFLAG is a national organization for LGBTQ+ people, their parents, families, and allies. PFLAG was founded in 1973 by a mother and her GAY son. Although since 2014 PFLAG is no longer an acronym, it formerly stood for Parents and Friends of Lesbians and GAYs.

Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis

• STEEL WOOL PADS (19A: Heavy-duty kitchen scourers)
• SUBWOOFER (33A: Speaker for low bass frequencies)
• HOLLYWOOD STAR (56A: Silver screen legend)

At the CENTER of each theme answer, we find the word WOO, a synonym of COURT: STEEL WOOL PADS, SUBWOOFER, and HOLLYWOOD STAR.

I appreciate that the word SOO is found in the exact CENTER of each theme answer. Although the theme answers CENTER the meaning of COURT that is a synonym of WOO, I think the grid design evokes a different meaning of CENTER COURT. The black squares of the grid are placed such that they somewhat look like a basketball COURT. Can you see it? I think that's a fun bonus. Thank you, Freddie, for this entertaining puzzle.

For more on USA TODAY’s Crossword Puzzles

• USA TODAY’s Daily Crossword Puzzles
• Sudoku & Crossword Puzzle Answers