Monday January 21st 2019, NY Times Crossword

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Time:7:26
Monday Average: 8:28
Best Monday: 4:10

Today's puzzle is holiday-themed for MLK day with CIVIL RIGHTS as the revealer clued "Cause championed by the figures at the ends of 16-, 22-, and 47-Across. It's fairly light in terms of theme material with FIT FOR A KING, NATIONAL PARKS, and THE WHOLE TRUTH making up the entries.

I lost some time by misspelling ROD LAVER and not being familiar with ODELL Beckham Jr., apparently a three time Pro Bowler. I'm not so strong on football player names, as I've mentioned numerous times, but I expect better from myself when it comes to very famous tennis players.

Why is ICED always clued in terms of cakes? It seems Smirnoff Ice is missing a real opportunity here. Of course, I guess when the premise of getting iced is that Smirnoff is terrible, maybe it's not the best advertising. Still, lean in, right?

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