Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for Oct. 9, #746

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle wasn’t as tough as past puzzles, I thought. I did get fooled into thinking one of the groups was going to be Olympic sports, or things connected with the Olympics, but it’s never that easy. Read on for hints and the answers.

Yellow group hint: Mano a mano.

Green group hint: Monikers for hoopsters.

Blue group hint: No charge.

Purple group hint: After four, but before six.

Yellow group: One-vs.-one sports.

Green group: Nicknames of famous Lakers.

Purple group: Groups of five people or things.

The theme is one-vs.-one sports.

The four answers are boxing, fencing, mixed martial arts and wrestling.

The theme is nicknames of famous Lakers.

The four answers are Big Game James (James Worthy), Magic (Earvin “Magic” Johnson), Mr. Basketball (George Mikan) and The Logo (Jerry West).

The four answers are agent, kick, safety and throw.

The theme is groups of five people or things.

The four answers are LPGA majors, modern pentathlon, offensive line and Olympic rings.

CNET editor Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, a journalist and pop-culture junkie, is co-author of "Whatever Happened to Pudding Pops? The Lost Toys, Tastes and Trends of the '70s and '80s," as well as "The Totally Sweet '90s." She's been a journalist since 1989, working at Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, Twin Cities Sidewalk, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and NBC News Digital. She's Gen X in birthdate, word and deed. If Marathon candy bars ever come back, she'll be first in line. See full bio