The New York Times’ Connections: Sports Edition for January 22 (#486) has been solved, with answers ranging from straightforward to surprisingly obscure. This puzzle, published by The Athletic, tests sports knowledge across various disciplines, and today’s edition presents a mix of recognizable and niche categories.
Today’s Categories and Solutions
The puzzle is broken down into four color-coded groups. Here’s how each grouping was solved:
- Yellow (Easiest): The theme centers on terms for energetic people. The words are dynamo, fireball, go-getter, and spark plug. These words all describe someone or something full of energy.
- Green: This category focuses on Super Bowl-winning head coaches. The answers are Don Shula, John Madden, Mike Tomlin, and Sean Payton. Identifying these figures requires familiarity with NFL history.
- Blue: The theme here is former ESPN shows. The correct words are Around The Horn, Dream Job, Playmakers, and Stump the Schwab. This group depends on knowledge of the network’s past programming.
- Purple (Most Difficult): This category is the most challenging, with the theme being phrases that end in an NBA team name. The answers are empty net, Joe Buck, The Yankee Clipper, and Tony Hawk.
Why This Puzzle Matters
Connections isn’t just about sports trivia. It’s a test of associative thinking, requiring players to find connections between seemingly unrelated terms. The difficulty of the purple category highlights how even dedicated sports fans may struggle with less mainstream knowledge.
Most Challenging Categories (From Previous Editions)
Past editions have featured exceptionally difficult groupings. Some notable examples include:
- Serie A Clubs: Atalanta, Juventus, Lazio, Roma
- WNBA MVPs: Catchings, Delle Donne, Fowles, and Stewart
- Premier League Team Nicknames: Bees, Cherries, Foxes, and Hammers
- Homophones of NBA Player Names: Barns, Connect, Heart, and Hero
The puzzle’s difficulty varies based on individual sports expertise, demonstrating that even devoted fans have blind spots in their knowledge.
