Each of the feeder answers clues a word which is one letter off from "SPAM" followed by something - in particular, a letter in "SPAM" is changed. When you interpret the phrase "SPAM something" as a description of something that you are spamming, they each match up with one of the given situations.
Feeder | Clued Phrase | Situation | Spam Phrase | Extracted Letter |
---|---|---|---|---|
MATCH OF THE CENTURY | SPASSKY | ...When you're painting scenery | SPAM SKY | S |
TAILOR | SEAMSTRESS | ...When you're writing poetry | SPAM STRESS | E |
CORPORAL PUNISHMENT | SPANKING | ...When you're playing checkers | SPAM KING | N |
EMBOSSING | STAMPING | ...When someone ignores you | SPAM PING | T |
THREE HUNDRED | SPARTAN | ...When you're doing math | SPAM TAN | R |
BENJAMIN TALLMADGE | SPYMASTER | ...When you're planting | SPAM ASTER | Y |
Taking the changed letters in the order of the situations spells the answer SENTRY.