LA Times Mini: Yesterday’s Puzzle Solved - Answers & Hints

A "SPAR" is a general term for a strong pole or beam used on a ship. It commonly refers to masts, booms, or yards, which are essential parts of a ship’s rigging, holding sails or supporting other structures. This matches the straightforward definition of "Ship pole."

Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant were both legendary basketball players for the Los Angeles Lakers, an NBA team. The term "LAKER" refers to a player for the Lakers, fitting the clue perfectly as "e.g." indicates they are examples of Lakers.

The answer is IRISE because it completes the title of Maya Angelou's famous poem, "Still I Rise." The poem is a powerful declaration of resilience and overcoming adversity, with the repeated phrase "I rise" symbolizing empowerment and strength. This matches the structure in the clue: "Still ___."

"Went out with" refers to the act of going on a date with someone, which aligns perfectly with the past tense "DATED." The clue implies a romantic or social context, making "DATED" the appropriate answer as it describes having been in such a situation.

The answer "SAT" fits because when someone poses for a portrait, they often physically sit down in place for the artist or photographer to capture their likeness. The past tense "posed" aligns with "sat," indicating an action completed.