Today's NYT Connections: Sports Edition Tips, March 7 #165's Answer

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Connection: Sports Edition can be tough today. Some of these categories are interesting, but oof, that purple group. Continue reading the tips and answers.
Connections: Sports Edition is no longer using Beta, making its debut in the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 9. This shows that the game has gained enough loyal players, and the sports game is The Athletic, a subscription-based sports news website owned by The The Times, will continue to be released. It does not show up in the NYT Games app, but now it appears in Athletic's own app. Or, you can continue to play it online for free.
Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzles come from Beta
Today's contact tips: Sports Edition Group
Here are four tips for grouping in today’s connections: Sports Edition puzzles, rankings from the simplest yellow group to the tough (sometimes strange) purple group.
Yellow group tips: Don't do this!
Green group tips: Omaha, Omaha!
Blue group tips: Break
Purple Group Tips: Do we draw or throw it?
Today's contact answer: Sports Edition Group
Yellow Group: Banned by baseball
Green Group: Pre-strike football
Blue Group: Used during timeout
Purple Group: Art, but exercise
Read more: Wordle cheat sheet: This is the most popular letter in English words
What is the connection today: Sports version answer?
Complete NYT Connections Sports Edition puzzle for March 7, 2025, #165.
Yellow words in today's connection
Theme is banned by baseball. These four answers are betting, cork bat, spitball and steroids.
Green Words in Today's Connection
The theme is withholding football. These four answers are audible, hard counting, motion and transfer.
Blue Words in Today's Connection
This topic is used during timeout. The four answers are chairs, towels, water bottles and whiteboards.
Purple Words in Today's Connection
The theme is art, but makes it sporty. The four answers are raffle draws, gallery, pitch frames and paint.
Quick tips for connecting: Sports Edition
#1: Don't catch the simplest group. For each word, consider other sports categories that it might fit – is this a word that can be used in football or a word that describes the scoring options?
#2: The second meaning is important. This puzzle likes to use last names or even university names that mean other things, tricking you into thinking they are words rather than names.
#3: The opposite is true. Words like injury seem to be a regular word, but it is also the last name of at least one professional athlete.