Theme ?

[gene47]

     I would like advice on a theme question.  I've sent about a dozen puzzles to the New York Times, each receiving a standard "thanks but no thanks" reply.  Here is my question:  Is the use of two forms of the same word in two theme entries a sure death sentence.  I plan to use the word PLAYER as a pun on the name Gary Player.  In the second entry the word PLAY would be the lead-in to the pun and would have the dictionary meaning.  Thank you for any and all help!   

[SJS]

Hard to say from the info you've given.  In general the re-use of a string of letters is not a problem if the words the letters appear in have different meanings.  But I'm guessing from your question that the pun you are applying to Player is to make the meaning like "one who plays" and, if that's so, I think it would not be acceptable to have "play" elsewhere in the puzzle.  But again, I'm just guessing from what you've said above.

Good luck with the puzzle!