Possible Clues:

• That pigeon might have made it for 30 down
• Great Greek who was known to nod
• Greek poet, c. 800 BC
• Many happy returns from the poet
• Quite a hit
• Fly enough to get a safe return from the poet
• You get a good return from this sort of a 24 across
• McGwire blast
• Semilegendary Greek poet
• Poet's beginning to recite at institution