ONE, TWO, THREE, SHOOT!
by Dan Katz
Solution: PERSONIFY
Identifying the specialties of the sixteen teams, one finds that no two teams in a division won the same number of games, so that they can be uniquely ranked. The wins column next to the specialty column suggests using the number of wins as an index into the specialty. Doing so and reading down the two columns gives the phrase MIX PEONY WITH FIRS. Combining the letters of PEONY and FIRS and anagramming yields only one nine-letter world: PERSONIFY (which is what one does when playing Rock Paper Anything.)
| NORTHEAST | NORTHWEST | ||||
|
Team |
Specialty |
Wins |
Team |
Specialty |
Wins |
|
1. Providence |
SPA(M) |
4 |
1. Boise |
CLO(W)NS |
4 |
|
2. Buffalo |
SP(I)NAL TAP |
3 |
2. Spokane |
ST(I)NG |
3 |
|
3. Boston |
E(X)CALIBUR |
2 |
3. Helena |
E.(T). |
2 |
|
4. New York |
(P)OISON |
1 |
4. Seattle |
(H)AMLET |
1 |
| SOUTHEAST | SOUTHWEST | ||||
|
Team |
Specialty |
Wins |
Team |
Specialty |
Wins |
|
1. Tampa |
VEG(E)TABLES |
4 |
1. San Diego |
GAR(F)IELD |
4 |
|
2. Savannah |
SP(O)NTANEOUS COMBUSTION |
3 |
2. Phoenix |
PR(I)NCE |
3 |
|
3. Atlanta |
I(N)DEPENDENCE DAY |
2 |
3. Los Angeles |
T(R)IVIAL PURSUIT |
2 |
|
4. Miami |
(Y)OUNG FRANKENSTEIN |
1 |
4. Las Vegas |
(S)ATURN |
1 |