Thom Loverro
Columns by Thom Loverro
LOVERRO: Howell learning some brutal NFL lessons from the ground up
It should be clear by now that the book on the 2-1 Commanders offense is to come after Sam Howell. I know that's what every defense tries to do every week against every quarterback, but these defenses are now targeting Howell. Published September 24, 2023
LOVERRO: Plenty of hurdles remain before Commanders return to D.C.
The legislation still has to make its way through Congress, and there are plenty of hurdles ahead before football returns to the banks of the Anacostia River. The politically-connected residents around the RFK site have always had mixed feelings about football, the traffic and the crowds. Published September 21, 2023
LOVERRO: The early returns on Howell, Bieniemy bode well for Commanders’ future
Two wins to start an ownership tenure is a feat unrivaled in franchise history. Published September 18, 2023
LOVERRO: The Nationals sale is stalled and suddenly the Lerners don’t sound much like sellers
With manager Dave Martinez and now general manager Mike Rizzo locked up with new contracts, do Mark Lerner and the rest of the family that owns the Nationals plan to see this ongoing rebuild through? Published September 14, 2023
LOVERRO: Dan Snyder’s absence guaranteed good day for fans. Team’s win was gravy
"We appreciate the fans coming out but we have to be a better football team" were the first words out of Ron Rivera's mouth. He couldn't wait to say it, and he repeated it several times. "We have to protect the ball better ... we have to make better decisions ... we can't beat ourselves." Published September 10, 2023
LOVERRO: Rivera needs to get this quarterback call right for a change
The coach's quarterback decisions here have been a disaster, the worst being trading for the $28 million disaster Carson Wentz. Published September 4, 2023
LOVERRO: The old columnist and the look-alike contest
I thought I had a chance to make the finals. After all, I had met the inspiration for Hemingway's "Old Man" -- the author's most iconic character. I was two degrees of separation away from the man the contest is named for. Published July 27, 2023
LOVERRO: For Washington football faithful, it’s July 4, Thanksgiving and Christmas rolled up in one
With the NFL's formal approval of the sale of the Washington football franchise for $6.05 billion, the team now belongs to Josh Harris and his band of brothers. Nobody could have imagined such a miracle possible after Snyder's pathetic attempt at a joke when he declared "Happy Thanksgiving" at Ron Rivera's January 2020 press conference hiring. Published July 20, 2023
LOVERRO: Nationals have talent in pipeline. Now they need an owner willing to spend
The Nationals didn't get this year's version of Stephen Strasburg, as LSU pitching star Paul Skenes went No. 1 to the Pittsburgh Pirates. But they did get this generation's version of Bryce Harper by selecting his teammate in stud center fielder Dylan Crews with the second pick. Published July 11, 2023
LOVERRO: Martinez, Rizzo deserve to see Nationals’ rebuild through to the end
In case the message has gotten lost among the owners, Dave Martinez wants to make it clear -- he wants to be here to help lead the new Nationals' top pick and the rest of the promising young players in their system to another World Series championship. Published July 6, 2023
LOVERRO: Adding Cruz at third put the ‘83 Orioles on track for a title
Friday would have been a good day to have a celebration of a key moment in the Orioles' last World Series season. It was on June 30, 1983, that the Orioles purchased the contract of troubled infielder Todd Cruz from the Seattle Mariners. Published June 29, 2023
LOVERRO: Washington’s whiff on Games looks like a win in wake of new corruption probe in Paris
The District, despite the best efforts of Mayor Muriel Bowser and Washington 2024's bid leader Ted Leonsis, was spared the pain that so many other Olympic-winning cities have suffered after being plundered by IOC gangsters. Published June 28, 2023
LOVERRO: Failed Washington Olympics bid looks like blessing now, with Paris probing corruption
The District, despite the best efforts of Mayor Muriel Bowser and Washington 2024's bid leader Ted Leonsis, was spared the pain that so many other Olympic-winning cities have suffered after being plundered by IOC gangsters. Published June 28, 2023
LOVERRO: MASN deal puts focus back on Leonsis’ play for the Nationals
Transparent Ted Leonisis may be one step closer to being the Washington Nationals owner. Hey, is this thing on? Hello? Hello? Testing? Published June 22, 2023
LOVERRO: The Leonsis playbook on business, life offers no insight on this Beal deal
In the owner's own book -- a book that promises to reveal "6 Secrets to Extraordinary Success in Work and Life" -- I could find nothing to explain how a star who signed a $251 million contract extension a year ago is now suddenly expendable. Published June 19, 2023
LOVERRO: Lightning strikes twice against Martinez, Nationals
These razor-thin losses take a lot out of a team that, quite honestly, needs every win within its grasp as it fights to keep from falling into the abyss. Published June 15, 2023
LOVERRO: A road trip mapped in the hearts of three lifelong friends
Our first stop was Progressive Field for the Cleveland Guardians game against the Boston Red Sox. It's a stadium that I've been to dozens of times as a sportswriter. I covered many of the glory days of the then-Indians squad of the 1990s, including the 1995 and 1997 World Series. Published June 13, 2023
LOVERRO: Leonsis shopping for better future for Wizards, Capitals
In the past, the Wizards and Capitals owner has shown a propensity for picking up the wrong item when he goes to the market. Published June 1, 2023
LOVERRO: Commanders’ mess of ‘rebrand’ forever linked to Snyder
The Commanders are the Exxon Valdez of the NFL. Here comes someone willing to clean up the mess and owners don't like the skimmers they use. Josh Harris should say, "Fine. Keep Joseph Hazelwood. We're done." Published May 31, 2023
LOVERRO: Ted Williams, the Senators and a father-son summer to remember
Spencer Hoopes spent the summer of 1969 watching Ted Williams and the Senators and helping his father, veteran Washington journalist Roy Hoopes, write "What a Baseball Manager Does." Published May 25, 2023
