Thom Loverro
Columns by Thom Loverro
LOVERRO: Life behind the mic put Washington announcer Brotman front and center
The man with a ringside seat for much of the last century of Washington history will turn 96 on Saturday. Published December 27, 2023
LOVERRO: Wrong from the start
So where did Ron Rivera go wrong? You could make the case that it was the minute he accepted a phone call from Washington owner Dan Snyder. Published December 26, 2023
LOVERRO: Relive the good times of Washington Redskins football with ‘George Allen’ book
"George Allen: A football life," by author and historian Mike Richman, captures the life and accomplishments of one of the most successful NFL coaches of all time who brought a new joy to Washington when he took over as head coach in 1971. Published December 21, 2023
LOVERRO: Gleeful dumping of the District not best look for Leonsis
At some point in the last week, I expected Ted Leonsis to apologize. Published December 19, 2023
LOVERRO: After lost opportunities, Commanders’ season reduced to bad football and coaching
Now it is just down to the dwindling days of bad football and bad coaching, with the countdown until the season ends on Jan. 7 and Ron Rivera, Eric Bieniemy and the rest of staff that has directed this team to a 4-10 record are gone on Jan. 8. Published December 18, 2023
LOVERRO: Nationals’ Rizzo joins DiMaggio, Marciano, Lombardi in Italian-American Sports Hall of Fame
Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo grew up in Chicago hearing stories from his father, the legendary scout Phil Rizzo, about Italian sports icons like Joe DiMaggio and Rocky Marciano. Now the younger Rizzo will take his place alongside DiMaggio, Marciano and other greats from his ethnic heritage when he is inducted Friday night into the Italian-American Sports Hall of Fame in his Chicago hometown. Published December 14, 2023
LOVERRO: Capitals-Wizards move hands Commanders big leverage in negotiations on a return to District
When Josh Harris heard the news that Transparent Ted Leonsis was going to leave the District and move his basketball and hockey team to Northern Virginia, do you think he popped champagne in his Miami Beach offices to celebrate? Published December 13, 2023
LOVERRO: Sale of Nationals still tangled up in fate of the Orioles
The MASN television deal means the futures of both teams are linked. Any Nationals sale may have to wait until the Orioles have new owners and Major League Baseball orders the whole MASN deal scrapped as part of any sale agreement for the Baltimore franchise. Published December 12, 2023
LOVERRO: Josh Harris will lose more by raising prices than he stands to gain
The Washington Commanders are going to raise season ticket prices for next season. This, of course, will come as bad news for all the fans of the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys and other visiting teams who filled FedEx Field this year and in years past. Published December 11, 2023
LOVERRO: How the Padres, 50 years ago, almost became Washington’s baseball team
Fifty years ago, the first week of December could have been one of the all-time weeks in sports in Washington, right up there among the best. Published December 7, 2023
LOVERRO: Sanders, Saban and college football’s lust for ratings
Deion Sanders and Nick Saban deliver the true currency of college football -- eyeballs. Published December 5, 2023
LOVERRO: Appreciation abounds at FedEx Field for everyone but Rivera’s Commanders
Sunday was the Washington Commanders' Fan Appreciation Game at FedEx Field, and the team invited a heck of a lot of people to share in the appreciation. Here's who didn't show up for Fan Appreciation Game -- the football team. Published December 3, 2023
LOVERRO: Rizzo hopefully shopping at MLB winter meetings with a bigger wallet
The Major League Baseball winter meetings start Sunday in Music City, U.S.A., and Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo better be shopping for more than Garth Brooks T-shirts. There are players to buy, and hopefully, Rizzo will be shopping with a bigger pocketbook than last year. Published November 30, 2023
LOVERRO: Johnson earned his place in Cooperstown out of worthy managerial field
The managers room in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum has 22 members now. It is most likely about to get a lot more crowded. Published November 29, 2023
LOVERRO: Del Rio’s firing goes beyond Commanders’ poor defensive play
After an inconsistent four seasons, including a disappointing 2023 season to date, with a 4-8 record that has seen Jack Del Rio's high-profile defense result in a bottom-feeding defense in nearly every measurable category, Del Rio, 60, was fired by Commanders coach Ron Rivera -- at least we are being led to believe it was his decision. Published November 28, 2023
LOVERRO: Washington’s rare Thanksgiving Day wins worth remembering, worth savoring
Alex Smith's remarkable comeback from a shattered broken leg included, most memorably, a Thanksgiving Day win in 2020 over the Dallas Cowboys. Published November 22, 2023
LOVERRO: Everyone’s got a Jimbo Fisher bad contract story
I hope John Fisher Day doesn't supplant July 1 -- Bobby Bonilla Day -- as a celebration of the worst contract in the history of sports. I like Bobby -- he was my favorite ballplayer to cover -- and Bobby Bonilla Day is sort of like his eternal flame. Published November 21, 2023
LOVERRO: Short week likely a lifeline for short-timer Rivera
The Commanders rewarded those Giants fans who made the trek to Landover Sunday by coughing up three interceptions and three lost fumbles, and making practice squad quarterback Jersey Tommy Devito look like Eli Manning playing the Patriots. Published November 19, 2023
LOVERRO: For Washington fans, MVP-level performances few, far between
For sports fans, that moment of seeing a hometown hero honored as a league MVP can be the icing on the cake of a great year, or, in some cases, a frustrating reminder of missed opportunities. Either way, it's not the kind of moment that Washington-area fans -- especially baseball fans -- have a lot of familiarity with. Published November 16, 2023
LOVERRO: Of course Howell’s performance raises questions about Rivera’s roster
The quarterback was the missing piece, all that was between the Commanders and winning. At least, that's what we were told. Published November 13, 2023
