LAT Sun. 2/6 Mike Peluso

[magus]

Subtraction

 
Excellent title for we must actually “subtract ion” for theme answers.
Eastern counters   ABACI [I thought Eastern Airways ticket counters]
Ignore a Time change   STET [note capital T for the magazine]
Theme: subtract “ion” from a word in a phrase yielding another phrase
“Most Difficult Woman” pageant winner’s title?   MISSIMPOSSIBLE
Batch of itch reliever?   CALAMINELOT
Native American Washington baseballer?   CHEROKEENAT
Deal between thugs?   MUSCLECONTRACT

 
Four baseball references:
GEHRIG
RYNE
SOSA
Washington NATs

 
SEI   [might have clued this “Small whale of the North”]
OPA
GATO   [might have clued this “Shrub una de ___: cat’s claw”

RATING: Three grins = Excellent: Loved it; Two grins = Good: Enjoyed it; One grin = Satisfactory: A bit bland for my taste; One teardrop = Unsatisfying: No fun

For a discussion on foreign terms, click on “Forum” tab, look under “General Discussion” (page 2) and select ZENOPHOBIA.