THEME: an impressive
twelve two-word phrases with first word ending in A and the second beginning with A
GOOD ONES: Event where the number 12 is important and {theme} AAMEETING [12 steps and the two A's literally meeting]
One working on figures? ICESKATER
Cuban of Dallas Mavericks, e.g. OWNER [Mark]
Jobs offering of 2007 IPHONE [better without "of 2007"]
Evelyn Waugh, but not George Eliot MAN
Hamburger beef? ACH [Hamburger, the German city]
Stars at the Forum? ASTRA [not the verb STARS]
Chain with stacks IHOP
BTW: Turtledove DEARIE [hearing either of these would mean I was in trouble]
Shows the way (to) LEADSIN [I suppose, but "in" is redundant]
Asserts sans proof ALLEGE [denotatively correct, but ALLEGE now means simply to state with or without proof]
Ideal for growing ARABLE [actually ARABLE does not suggest "ideal" growing conditions, just that it is possible]
I enjoyed the cluing throughout though non-sports fans may have been frustrated by a surfeit for sports names and terms.
RATING:
Three grins = Loved it; Two grins = Enjoyed it; One grin = A bit bland for my taste; One teardrop = Not much fun
