| THETIMES | With 38- and 52-Across, 1964 Bob Dylan song ... or a hint to the answers to this puzzle's starred cl |
| BLOWININTHEWIND | Bob Dylan song ... or a hint to the object |
| PASSERBYSCOMMENT | With 38 and 52 Across, the intro to an observation |
| MIDDLEEAR | Site of the hammer, anvil and stirrup ... and a hint to the hidden word in the answers to starred cl |
| TEARAPART | Rip to pieces, and a hint to what's hidden in the answers to this puzzle's starred clues |
| BEONTHEBALL | Demonstrate effectiveness, and a literal hint to the puzzle theme found in the answers to starred cl |
| BCS | Recently retired NCAA football ranking system, and, as a plural, a hint to the answers to starred cl |
| HITPARADE | List of popular songs ... or a hint to the ends of the answers to the starred clues |
| AANDW | Classic root beer brand ... or a hint to the answers to this puzzle's starred clues |
| ROCKBOTTOM | All-time low ... or a musical hint to the answers to this puzzle's starred clues |
| FIVESECONDRULE | Dubious food-eating guideline ... or a hint to the answers to this puzzle's starred clues |
| FRUITLESS | Unproductive ... or, literally, a hint to the answers to this puzzle's starred clues |
| NEWYEARSEVE | Occasion to shout out the ends of the answers to this puzzle's starred clues (from left to right) |
| DOUBLEDOWN | Gamble boldly, in a way ... or a hint to the answers to this puzzle's italicized clues |
| INSIDEBET | Kind of wager in roulette, and a feature of the answers to this puzzle's starred clues |
| SPINCLASSES | Intense cycling sessions ... or what you must do to complete the answers to this puzzle's starred clues |
| POSITIVE | Word (suggested by the black shape in this grid's center) that can precede the answers to starred cl |
| MRINBETWEEN | Something to "call me" per an old song, or a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| OPPOSITESATTRACT | Saying about compatible partners ... as suggested by the starts of the answers to this puzzle's starred clues? |
| ONETWOTHREEKICK | Classic Xavier Cugat song ... or a hint to the invitation in the circled letters |
