The New York Times crossword puzzle

Across 1 Either of the World Series winners of 2004 and ’05 4 Pickle variety 8 Talk about ad nauseam 14 James ___, founder of the auction house that sold 38-Across 16 First name in solo flying 17 Gets excited about, e.g. 18 Dietetic restriction 19 Pot thickener? 20 Desires 22 Mucky mess 23 Basketball tactic

25 Jazz Appreciation Mo.

27 Anita of jazz 30 Cartoonist Hoff of The New Yorker 31 Beginning stage 34 Painter Magritte 35 Mountain nymph 36 Morphine, e.g. 38 Renaissance painting that was sold in November 2017 for a record $450.3 million

41 ___ retriever 42 “Nothing ___” (slangy refusal) 43 First name? 44 How some fish are caught 46 Clunky boat 49 Actress Turner 50 “Mazel ___!” 51 Excel 53 Make a request 55 Sagacious 58 Some Shoshonean speakers 59 Shut down 62 100-page stories, say 64 Passionate 65 English king who once owned 38-Across 66 Some may be flying 67 College in Westchester County, N.Y. 68 Colorant

Down 1 Leftovers 2 Author known for twist endings 3 Pornographic 4 Observance that begins in March: Abbr. 5 Teeny, for short 6 Lo-cal 7 Creator of 38-Across 8 First name in Solo flying? 9 Author Oz 10 Eliminating the effects of wear and tear on, as was done to 38-Across 11 Lie on one’s back and not move, maybe 12 38-Across, for one

13 Met rival from D.C. 15 Finishes, as a cake 21 Someone with intelligence? 24 Do military duty

26 Pad sharer 28 Not with 29 “___-haw!” 32 Make a declaration with a straight face 33 Vampire ___ 35 7-Down, for one 37 Boats propelled by poles 38 Mixer at a party 39 “M*A*S*H” actor 40 “Grant” biographer Chernow 41 Gadot of “Justice League” 45 Word said before “then,” oxymoronically 46 Like a dame or earl

47 On pins and needles 48 Blues great Smith 52 Main part of a ship 54 Superman without a cape 56 Gallery district in Manhattan 57 Former senator Bayh 59 Is provided with

60 Work of ___ (38-Across, e.g.)

61 Sot’s problem 63 The Renaissance, e.g.

No. 1212