Subject:      PCWC full results
From:         fyj@psu.edu (Edward Coulson)
Date:         1996/10/25
Message-Id:   <fyj.106.327009F5@psu.edu>
Newsgroups:   rec.puzzles.crosswords

The results are in and the ballots counted, and the winner of 
PCWC 63 is Kevin Wald with his absolutely stellar entry:

Ruler of nine planets is in touch with earth's leader (8)

Kevin predeclined the chance to moderate PCWC 64 so that mantle
passes to runner-up Pete Mitchell for the absolutely smashing:

Unqualified Boston ensemble breaks an instrument (8)

Take it away, Pete.
---------------------

General comments:

From the moderator-- I did not use the UNIX script for this.  My unit has 
recently installed a UNIX system, but I thought in the end that it would be 
easier to just cut-and-paste my through this with Windows and Quattro-Pro 
rather than learn a new system in order to moderate a crossword contest.  I 
was wrong.  Anyway that's why the format below looks different.  Also, you 
know that the state of the cryptic-world is a bit disheveled when some 
complainthat AB=sailor is obscure and some complain that it's a crossword 
cliche.

Brand names aside, I felt that ABSOLUT + E was the cheap way
out of a word that offered many better possibilities.  An
interesting variety of charades and surface themes.

Excellent choice of word, with many definitions and a bunch of
construction possibilities.  I think the small anagram-flap we had
on CWC100 may have reduced the number of anagrams entered, which is
too bad, since there were many possibilities, and at least one of
the bonus clues had an outstanding anagrammatic construction.

[mentally insert "imho" into each comment]
must've been a tough word to clue, because the entries stink.
actually, i think that the quality in the rpc contests as of late
has been outstanding.  the recent surge of newcomers and the emergence
of grade-a female cluers (gail, paula, karen) has been encouraging.
rpc is a real oasis in the mess that is usenet.  i like the discussion
about judging that's been going on lately; i'm curious to see whether
this will extend to pcwc, where the judging can seem inconsistent, 
arbitrary, and dubious at times.  keep up the good work!

There were only about three duplications of the
definition part, out of nineteen clues!  This
must have been a good choice.

This is the first time I have entered or voted in one of these
competitions but I hope it won't be the last.
I thought the word chosen was excellent as it had so many possible
definitions.
As this is my first time I'm not too sure how trenchant observations
should be so I hope I've not been over critical.

    Does everyone on the planet just happen to know that AB is a sailor
and UT is an ancient musical note and OS is a bone (except me)?
Or do people say, "Gee, I can get all the other letters, now I need
to get something for UT, hey! look!  UT is actually in the dictionary
and actually means something!  I can use it!"  Well, it doesn't work
backwards that easily.  You can't start from "sailer" and figure out
"AB".  Obscure is not the same as clever or tricky.
Some day I am going to write a perfect clue using only particle 
physics jargon and see how you all like it.
    I also found it humorous that salt was used to mean both "AB" and
"SOLUTE".  Why didn't someone turn in a clue like "pure salt salt"?
    I found there were some excellent complex, lengthy clues
 which I usually scorn, but ranked highly here.  
--------------------------------------------------------------------
1st place- Kevin Wald

Undisputed ruler of nine planets is in touch with Earth's leader (8)
Clue 2 - 0 60 63 67 81 83 85 87 97 100 100 100 -- 76.9%

Great definition & excellent surface. Only problem is with that long
phrase to get "SOL". My runner-up.

Somehow you went from "is in touch with" in your clue to "touch"
in your explanation.  At the very least, this is the difference
between ABUT and ABUTS; but even further, I'm not convinced that
to be "in touch" carries the same meaning as "to abut".

Clever construction 

"undisputed" isn't *quite* the same as "unquestionable", which was the
def. you were going for, right?  am i off?  i don't like "ruler" in
the cryptic reading.  i thought you were talking about the roman god, but
your comment makes me think that you weren't.  i guess it rules in a
gravity-kinda-way.  this cryptic part was also our-solar-system-centric.
the cryptic reading leans towards ABSOLEUT, but its okay.  all that
said, i liked the surface, and this clue contained no major flaws.
second place.

Good surface, very misleading use of 'in touch with'. A little
unfair perhaps to expect 'touch' to lead to 'abut'.

The phrase "is in touch with" should win the contest.
Not quite sure why the Sun is the "ruler", though.

Great surface and crafty cryptic construction; I'll quibble
that "ruler" describes the relationship of sun to planets
in rather a figurative sense.

Nice surface but was IS needed?

I love this surface, too.  It comes in 3rd in a very close 3-way race.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd place- Pete Mitchell

Unqualified Boston ensemble breaks an instrument (8)
Clue 3 - 25 25 50 57 63 70 75 77 90 92 94 100  -- 68.3% 

Too bad a great definition was wasted on the obscure BSO and rest
of this tortured charade.

Is an = a a normal practice?

others will complain about "bso", but i just came from tanglewood-country,
and i like it.  i love the two-faced "unqualified".  first place.

A lute is an instrument, but an instrument is not a lute.
An instrument is too many other things as well to be fair.

"Unqualified" isn't a term you'd usually apply
to an ensemble.  Aside from that, and the lack
of an abbreviation indicator, this is a very fine
clue.

Good surface and definition, but I'm uncomforable accepting
BSO, which I regard as an arbitrary and provincial 
abbreviation.

From the UK, BSO does not come to mind for the ensemble.
(More likely to think of Tea Party!!)

I love the surface, but I wonder how many people will get BSO?
---------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd place- Bill Shatzer

Complete border encircles the sun and earth (8)
Clue 19 - 0 40 40 55 63 70 70 71 75 92 94 100  -- 64.1%

Okay, but what does it mean?

Excellent, solid container charade, with a decent surface. My winner.

other than the meaningless surface, this is a sweet clue.  third place.

Good smooth surface

Nice solidly-constructed charade, good surface, v. concise

A very good clue.  I agree that "the sun" is better
than "sun" for SOL.  Have trouble picturing that
complete border, though.  And the immigration
authorities along the Rio Grande think *that's*
difficult to patrol!

Pretty good clue, but the surface pales next to the 
similarly-constructed #2, I'm afraid.

I feel that this clue is ambiguous with regard to the use of 
ENCIRCLES as a placement indicator.
------------------------------------------------------------------
4th place- Phil Rose

Sailor sounds greeting to superiors without exception (8)
Clue 5  - 12 33 40 45 50 53 80 80 83 86 100 100 -- 63.6%

Good homophone 

Very sound.  :-)

Good def'n, but misplaced homophone indicator & that cliched AB.

the one device i cannot stand is hom-charades.  what was really confusing
is that "solute" is an actual word with the wrong pronounciation.
now i see.  the surface is nice.  have i mentioned i cannot stand
hom-charades?

Good homophone. Are you allowed to split AB and SALUTE
with the indicator? Made for a good surface, anyway.

I like pure homophones better than homophone-charade
hybrids.

Nice work; the homophone is right on the money (personally,
I prefer "pure" homophones, uncombined with a charade element,
but I'll be lenient here); good surface.

Not happy with homophone. SALUTE too approximately = SOLUTE for me

While I do NOT like AB, the homophone is quite good.
----------------------------------------------------------------
5th place- Navin Kashyap

Pure salt -- that's what's in the solution (8)
Clue 4  - 0 17 35 50 57 60 70 75 81 83 87 100   --  59.6%

I like the concept; I only wish you could have found a better
way to clue SOLUTE without using the word "solution"]

I don't like cliche cryptic crutches (CCC's) like sailor/salt = AB, 
and feel clues of this type lack imagination. And in this clue,
I also didn't like using "solution" to define SOLUTE.

"ab" is new to me; is this common?  legality checks out.  might be too
obscure for my liking.  am i just ignorant?  "solute" isn't very cryptic
(you use "solution"), and i don't like "*that's* what".  still, i gave
you a decent score because i like the surface, esp. the two-faced "salt".

"salt" == AB??? Not where I come from. 'Old salt', maybe, 
but still a stretch

The best of the flawed clues.  (Flawed by using a 
word related to ABSOLUTE in the cryptic part.)

Yeah, but you've got a somewhat circular logic in using
"solution" to define "solute" --- a legal clue construction,
perhaps, but not particularly desirable.

I question salt = AB.   Certainly AB = seaman - see next clue

I do NOT like AB, but the cryptic is pretty good.
--------------------------------------------------------------------  
6th place-Dean Howard

Autocratic Internet provider is full of crap - dumb, and lacking
primary maintenance.  
Clue 18 - 20 25 31 33 45 50 57 62 80 83 98 100  --  57.1%

:-)  :-)

Don't accept "Autocratic" as def'n of ABSOLUTE. Funny clue, but
a VERY tortured charade.

Not sure about autocratic as a defn for absolute. Interesting surface

despite what webster says, i still don't like the def.  what i really
don't like is the extraction for "ute"; the ind. for "m" is off, and
the "and" really hurts the cryptic reading.  a lot of work just to remove
the first letter of "mute".  the first half of the cryptic is a real gem.

Not a bad surface (mother grundies would disagree),
and a very good charade-type clue, but 
'Autocratic' is not a particularly good def for ABSOLUTE

"primary of xxxx" or "xxxx's primary" is a much better
formulation than this.  Would be better without the
computer jargon (A.O.L.), too.

Good, if lengthy, surface, but cryptically it's so chock-full 
of abbreviations and complexity that it's not my cup of tea.

Amusing, but I was unhappy about the second part of the surface.   
The word order seemed wrong as an indicator and contrived to make 
the surface intelligible.
----------------------------------------------------
7th place-Clay Colwell

Honest fellow cornered slut that had nothing pure (8)
Clue 12 - 30 30 37 44 45 50 60 64 65 75 83 92   --  56.3%

It's a choppy read, but it does make me laugh.  I think "cornered"
is a stretch as a container indicator, as it doesn't really imply
surrounded -- you don't tend to be cornered from two opposite
directions.

"cornered" as container indicator was tough for me, and the
construction is pretty tortured.

something like "president informally..." would've been more humorous in  
the surface; it also would've kept me from wondering why an honest
guy is spending time with promiscuous women.  i don't like "cornered"
as a cont. ind.  the double-cont. is an inelegant device.  still, i
like this attempt, other than the disgustingly objectifying use of
"that" in the surface.

Cornered is not a very good container indicator. The rest is good,
except the surface is a bit dodgy.

I had a hard time liking this clue, with the inelegant
"nothing pure", but it's well-constructed and it grew
on me.

Would an "honest" fellow "corner a slut"?  Maybe he can
be honest yet not exactly honorable; good surface
otherwise.  "Honest fellow", cryptically, approaches a
degree of indirectness that I'm not overly fond of.

Surface too contorted and I did not think of ABE when trying to 
deal with *honest fellow* possibly because of being UK based.

Pretty good, but the surface is ungrammatical.
-------------
8th place-Paul Weiss

For every second as bishop, laud the ultimate reality (8)
Clue 6  - 0 22 30 50 50 50 62 67 69 75 78 85    -- 53.2%

Sorry, but doesn't "every second" imply that you skip the first
and then take the second?  "Every other" would work, as it's not
as definitive which one you start on, but yours has *no* seconds
only "firsts of two".  Fatal flaw, IMO.

Surface doesn't make much sense, but interesting construction 

doesn't that define "THE absolute"?  is "reality" right in the def?
the ind. isn't quite right; it only implies what to do.  this cryptic
device is hard to disguise, and it isn't well-hidden here.  i don't
mind an easy clue if the surface and def. are smooth and clever.
this clue goes 0-2. 

Didn't like "ultimate reality" obscure definition, but liked construction.

Excellent acronym, well hidden, top surface. My winner.

can't believe the bishop lauds while asleep, etc.

An all-around adequate clue:  pretty good surface, especially
for the difficult-to-be-smooth alternating-letter clue; a fair
indicator which doesn't stick out gratingly.

Clever alternative to the usual first letters

While I do NOT like AB, the homophone is quite good.

----------------
9th place-Gail Koontz

Clear Swedish vodka evaporates first (8)
Clue 8  - 0 10 12 20  37 58 60 70 78 90 93 100    --  52.5%

this clue seeems too easy, except for the fact that "clear" seems an
improper def.  i'm curious to know which meaning of "absolute" you were
going for here.  finally, the "first" ind. isn't quite right, as i'm
sure others will point out.

Excellent surface, well-constructed clue, just a bit easy maybe.

Obviously, I'd better stick with my murky Russian vodka
if I'm to enjoy my drink!  Unsure of the derivation of the
brand name; the clue feels a bit like cluing "Ford" as
"Industrialist's car", but I'll give it the benefit of the
doubt.

Short and sweet like the vodka?

The cryptic is perfect, but the surface is not as evocative as clues
I ranked higher.
-----
10th place- That Ken Guy (Ken Stern)

Ultimate vodka heads east (8)
Clue 13 - 10 37 40 42 44 48 50 58 64 70 75 83  -- 51.8%

I thought the ultimate vodka came *from* the east...  :-)

uninspired, but at least it's flawless.

The best of the 'absolut' clues.

Solid, but very unimaginative clue.

As with the other vodka clue, I'm not sure of the 
wisdom of using the brand name, but no matter; I'm less 
satisfied with this clue, as it lacks some indication
of a brand name.  The surface sounds as though the last
batch has just been sent to Siberia, no?

Short sweet and neat once I accept that ABSOLUT is a def of vodka 
without any qualifier regarding language

Cryptically good, but the surface doesn't do it for me.

------
Clue 1  -  20 20 30 42 50 50 50 57 60 69 75 87  -- 50.8%
Coldest state loses nothing fundamental (8)


This clue, IMHO, lacks real wordplay.

not my favorite def. of absolute, but acceptable (according to my
bedside dict., this doesn't fly.  webster supports your position, however.)
the construction, solid as it is, is quite dull, as it removes one part
of a compound phrase.  the surface is mediocre at best.  the only plus
about this clue is that "coldest state" can lead the solver astray.

A bit ambiguous - loses nothing could mean take the o from absolute

Minor nitpick - surface doesn't seem to mean anything

This would be better if one could picture what
Alaska is losing.

Cryptically okay, I guess (although I rarely if ever see the
phrase written out numerically as 'absolute 0'); definition
a little iffy in my book, as the "absolute" in "absolute zero"
is, fundamentally, um, "fundamental".

Cool!!

While cryptically good, I find it somewhat a cheat.  

-------
Clue 14 -  0 30 30 40 42 44 50 57 60 62 87 100  -- 50.2%
Unconditional forgiveness of sin includes final crime once charge is
    dropped  (8)


Clever combination of words into a common theme.  Still, if
the forgiveness were unconditional, why would one have to wait
for the charge to be dropped?  :-) 

Excellent (unconditional) definition, but "charge" by itself does not
equal ION.

very cute attempt!  at first i thought the double use of "absolut-"
was inelegant, but i looked it up and they have different latin roots!
very nice and informative!  that said, "last *of* crime" is needed to
get the 'e', "includes" suggests a cont. rather than an appendage,
and an ion is not a charge (wasn't that covered in another contest
recently?).  finally, the surface is confusing.  if the forgiveness
is unconditional, why point out one thing that it includes?  also, i
don't trust it its "unconditionality", since it had to wait for
that charge to be dropped (which sounds suspiciously like a condition!)

Best of the  charade clues.

Forgiveness "includes" a crime?  "Includes" is an
inaccurate indicator in the cryptic, too.

I'd have preferred that the clue avoid using a word
(absolution) rooted etymologically in the word to be
solved (absolute).  Not too bad otherwise; nice use of
two senses of "charge" in crpytic and surface.

Clever

I usually don't like complex clues, but this one is so perfect -- both
cryptically and surface-wise.  I give it top marks, just edging out
the AOL clue.

-----------------
Sailor and salt, for example, are indivisible (8)
Clue 7  -  0 20 20 25 30 40 50 57 70 81 87 100  --  48.4%

"Indivisible" means not capable of being divided.  The closest meanings
of "absolute" I can find are pure, complete, or undivided, but I don't 
see any of these as being the same thing.  And I tried, too, because
I really like the surface and clever blending of themes.

Good surface, but salt=solute is strained and that AB shows up again

Not sure about absolute = indivisible, otherwise a good clue 

looking at clues 4 & 7, i'm surprised no one went for a "salt salt" clue!
see clue 4 re: "ab".  the "for example", needed for the cryptic reading,
hurts the surface.  the biggest problem here is the def.; i'm curious
to know which meaning of "absolute" you were going for here.

I'll take your word on absolute==indivisible.

Please note, "solute" and "absolute" share the same
Latin root, "solvere".

My trouble with this clue centers on "salt" --- without some
sort of reference to dissolving, it makes for a poor example
of "solute".
 
Salt and solute are simply not the same.   Many salts are not
soluble and anything which dissolves is a solute.

I do NOT like AB, and the surface isn't as good as other clues.

----------------
A twisted soul splits the crazy beat - that's the limit.
Clue 10 -  10 15 25 40 42 44 47 50 64 67 75 80  --  46.5%

Whoo.  A double anagram container!  I'd expect more from the surface
to justify this combination.

Strained surface and a double-anagram container is not my favorite
clue construction device.

one anagram containing a second anagram -- not the most elegant of
cryptic devices.  "that's the" is extraneous, and the surface has
no flow.  the '-' inelegantly breaks up the cryptic and def. halves,
which as a solver, i'd rather have to figure out myself. 
p.s. - lose the stop and add enumeration.

Excellent surface, anagram indicators maybe a bit obvious,
making the clue just a bit too easy.

Surface sounds tacked together

An interesting surface on the left side of the hyphen, but
it seems disjoint from the right side.  Double anagram/
inclusion is a little complex, but clearly indicated 
cryptically.

Loved the clue but is *the limit* a good def of absolute?

Cryptically perfect, and an interesting two-part anagram, but
I prefer clues where the definition doesn't seem tacked onto the end.


--------
Kelvin, a bachelor fish, hosted an old-fashioned "do" (8)
Clue 15 -  0 8 15 20 25 25 30 37 44 50 66 100  -- 35.1%

I like it!  Not easy to solve, certainly, but in the context
of a puzzle I think it would be perfectly fair.  Winner.

Kelvin does not define ABSOLUTE and rest of clue is very obscure.

"kelvin" defines "pertaining to absolute temp", not "absolute".
the use of "kelvin" adds nothing to the surface, which already
is sportin' the phrase "bachelor fish".  thanks for filling me in
about "ut"; however, it seems to obscure to include in a cryptic
(despite the clever two-faced "do").  the poor def. and surface kill
the decent construction

The surface is horrible - what is a bachelor fish?
Also, a sole is a fish, but a fish is not a sole.
And this old-fashioned UT is way too obscure.

I'll reserve judgment on the definition and a fish with 
such an interesting name, but I regard the cryptic use
of "ut" is much to obscure for my taste.

Great if you know your history of music - otherwise nearly
impossible.

I do NOT like UT.

---------
Complete no stringed instrument, after starting two of twenty-six (8)
Clue 9  -  0 0 0 0 0 25 50 56 60 60 75 83      --  34.1%

ABOLUTE?  Where's the 'S'?  Also, I find the surface strange and strained.

The only thing I can say good about "first two of twenty-six" clueing
AB is that at least it wasn't that sailor again.

Surface isn't smooth, but good construction 

s is for surface.  this clue desperately needs both.

I don't like failed charades much, if you're gonna use one
then try and get it right. What's ABOLUTE?

My sympathies for your S omission.  Also, what's the
reference to the twenty-four violins that were not
even "started"?

My own clue, downgraded for failing to clue the "s" cryptically.
What was I thinking?  Shoot me.  I need an editor/watchdog. {Moderator's
note:  Look how many didn't notice...}

Surface too contrived for me.

Oops!  ABOLUTE doesn't compute.

OK, but not as good as clues I ranked higher.
---
Perfect - sounds like a short computer program address (8)
Clue 11  - 0 10 14 15 18 33 37 37 40 44 50 60  --  30.0%

Don't like it.  I'm a programmer, and I couldn't see it.  I figured you
were making some esoteric double definition reference to "absolute
addressing"

"Perfect" good as definition, but the homophone is...imperfect

the '-' inelegantly breaks up the cryptic and def. halves,
which as a solver, i'd rather have to figure out myself.
nice attempt.  i like loose hom's (i'm sure you'll find other
judges don't), but the 'p' is a stretch, particularly because
"app" is a hard element to get from what you've given.  nice two-faced
use of address.  as for the surface... does the short modify the
the program or the address (or, i s'pose the computer!)?  why would
an address be perfect?!?  what does this mean?!? (i'm in cs).
i gave you a middling score because this was the closest thing to
an "abs-salute" hom. clue in the official entries.

Address=salute is a bit thin. I believe homophones are hard
enough without using obscure links. Surface a bit contrived, too.

Points off for computer jargon.

Not even a great surface, as far as I'm concerned; but the
fidelity (or lack thereof) of the homophone ("app" != "ab")
really sinks this clue --- not to mention having to throw
in "short" to make things even more convoluted.

I think I have a prejudice about homophones.   Again it was not 
close enough for me.

Alas, NOT perfect.  "App" does not sound like "Ab" and I like
my homophones perfect.  Also, I don't like clues with the 
definition tagged on.

----------------
Complete the lowest degree
Clue 16  - 0 0 0 10 10 20 33 39 40 43 67 87    --  29.1%

I couldn't figure out how you got rid of that final "zero".

oohh... goes for the killer surface (the two-faced "degree"
and "complete"), but fails on the second def.  you defined "absolute
zero", not "absolute".  unfortunately, if you use the double-def device
and one of the defs is a dud, you're dead.
p.s. add the enumeration

Yes it's a double def, and a pretty good one.

It might be a double definition, if the second half truly
clued "absolute" instead of "absolute zero"; as-is, it
needs something like ", missing nothing" appended.

I do not find "absolute" and "absolute zero" to be the same. 
-----------
For breakfast a blue oats mixture in the unequivocal choice (8)
Clue 17  - 0 5 8 12 17 20 20 28 37 40 42 44    -- 22.8%  

Too much superfluity for me.  "For breakfast" and "choice", both
significant sounding words in prominent placement (i.e. at the
beginning and end of the clue) are too detracting. 

Lots of verbiage: "For breakfast a" ; "choice"

Rather contrived and over wordy

get me the clippers, wilma:  "a blue oats mixture unequivocal".
what the *%&# are "blue oats"?  sad grains aside, the surface makes
no more sense than the trimmed version above.  finally, with all due
respect to mr. roget, a thesaurus is not a dictionary, as i found out
when i tried to use "wave" to define "spell" a ways back.  i.e., i think
your def. is a bit off; i don't think "unequivocal" is the same as
"unquestionable", which i presume was the def. you were aiming for.
please correct me if i am whack.

Obvious anagram, what are blue oats, and minus an extra point
for the typo ("in" ilo "is")

So where does "for breakfast" and "choice" fit in?  A
classic example of padding a clue with words for the 
benefit of the surface and convenience of the cluer,
leaving the solver relatively, uh, clueless.

If the clue is typed correctly  then the surface is too convoluted.
I wondered if the IN should have been IS.   What is the 
significance to the clue of FOR BREAKFAST?

Try to cut down on words that are not essential to
the cryptic or the definition.

Uh oh, one of those British-American things.  Well, you can get 
high marks from your fellow countryman, I am going to mark you down
for the superfluous "For breakfast". 

------------------
Bonus Clues:

Tummy of steel warrants this kind of praise, we hear
Clue 20

Excellent homophone clue, better than almost all of the regular clues!

here's that hom. i was hoping for!  how does the "of steel" help other
than for the surface?  this is not quite an &-lit, but i'm not
complaining.

Flawed, IMHO, by only a glancingly proper definition, and
a faulty equation of "tummy of steel" = "abs".

What current exercise video???   Also see previous coments 
regarding homophones

-------------------------------------------------------

First note, second note, fifth note, first note, fifth note--
a perfect scale?
Clue 21 

I can't even BEGIN to comment on this one...

Interesting clue

a typical bonus clue.  i'm not sure i like "a" being the "first note".
the def isn't quite right.

You're mixing different note types without any clues as to 
how to get to the answer - First note is both 'A' and 'UT'
(too obscure anyway), and Fifth note is both SOL and E.
Just a bit unfair, maybe.

Only in the key(s) of A are A,B,E the 1st,2nd,5th notes.

Iffy definition; too formulaic a cryptic.

Fifth note of tonic sol-fa is SOH not SOL as far as I know.   My 
dictionary has SOL as the Middle English word from which SOH is 
derived.


Pure soul beat... jazzy (8)
Clue 22

Excellent anagram clue with a great surface...why didn't you submit
this one as your regular entry???

Great surface - no redundancy - and 'jazzy' a good fit with 'soul beat'

lose the stop.  decent clue.

I would have scored this one top!

Quite good for a bonus clue!

Decent theme; a little sparse in meaning, but that may be
typical of jazz, anywa

This I like.   Minimum word count and every one counts!
-----------------------------------------------

Utter a note, so large mandolin can accompany
Clue 23

don't like "note" -> 'B'.  i don't mind people using directions
(four to choose from).  but seven notes seems too much.

All very well, except for note=B. Not where I come from.

I am not convinced by LUTE def as large mandolin which I would have
taken as MANDOLA.   Also why MAY ACCOMPANY rather than ACCOMPANIES?
------------------------------------------------
English instrument keeps large bone retracted and whole (8)
Clue 24

nice convoluted construction, not so great surface
-----------
Complete Atlanta wrapup: The first baseman and the third baseman led off the
first.  The center fielder followed with a second bunt, leading to the first
and final score
Clue 25

Loved it! But is the Ny Times space large enough to contain it?

I'm not sure I ever would have solved this one, but damned if I
can find anything wrong with it.  :-)

Keeps to a consistent theme, but, obviously, far too long
and slightly too forumlaic.

This is long, but clever.  Actually the only real problem I
had with it was that the word "the" was used so many times in
non-significant ways, yet we were supposed to know that at the
end it was suddenly significant ("the first" = T);  I kept
walking through the clue and ending up with ABSOLUSE, taking
the "first and final" of SCORE.  

most of your indicators to extract specific letters are off.
for example, "the first baseman" doesn't lead directly to 'b',
as "the first *of* baseman" does.

Final gon[g] of th[e] last ma[t]ch.  In the center, former
champ [ALI] puts head into [f]ight.  Sixth chall[e]nger,
wake up!  (3,1,4)

Keeps to a consistent theme, but, obviously, far too long
and slightly too forumlaic.

Just too complex for my taste

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Love devoured by the vagaries of a subtle perfection (8)
Clue 26

This is an excellent anagram container clue, with a ethereal surface
and faultless construction. I really liked "vagarities..." as the
anagram indicator. A clear winner if it had been a regular clue!

Nice.

I would have counted this the clear winner.  Excellent cryptic,
with a surface reading Jane Austen would have been proud of.