Solution: Kind of scrum - NYT Crossword

This clue is the first time in the Times puzzle that “scrum” has referred to anything beyond the sport of rugby, where it defines a formation of players and derives from “skirmish,” by way of “scrimmage.” The use of “scrum” to describe a gathering of MEDIA evokes paparazzi, or a gang of reporters clamoring for a quote from a figure in a scandal. (Advice to potential such figures includes “stand against a wall or fence” and “make eye contact,” which is the opposite of what you do when you’re approached by a bear, so don’t mix those situations up.)