Thom Loverro
Columns by Thom Loverro
LOVERRO: The Commanders’ need for a good housecleaning goes well beyond just Snyder
There is no shortage of blunders that have taken place under Jason Wright's watch -- and responsibility -- from the multiple Sean Taylor debacles to bouncing checks to the logo mistakes, wrong player information in ceremonies and a list of others that the person at the top of the organization has to carry the weight for. Published May 18, 2023
LOVERRO: The Snyder story, reality vs. the media-guide version
The Redskins told us, year after year, that billionaire Dan Snyder fell in love with the team as a boy. What the annual media guide profiles didn't say, though, was that his ownership as an adult was driving rank-and-file fans away. Published May 17, 2023
LOVERRO: Mafioso tells author in new book that crime boss leaned on Unitas, Ali
A new book includes an allegation that crime boss Russell Bufalino knew Johnny Unitas and Muhammad Ali well enough to ask the iconic sports figures for favors -- requests that neither man, apparently, could refuse. Published May 10, 2023
LOVERRO: Boxing’s roots in Washington blossom at Congress Heights arena
The Entertainment and Sports Arena in Congress Heights in southeast Washington will host the fourth boxing card Saturday night in a series of shows sponsored by a trio of promoters called "Beltway Battles." The first show was held in October 2021, followed by two cards in 2022. Published May 4, 2023
LOVERRO: For good or bad, new owner saddled with Rivera’s picks
If the anticipated approval of the $6 billion sale, expected by the league owner's meetings May 22, had been a few weeks earlier, Harris might have had a say in the future of his future team. But last week, Dan Snyder was still the boss. Published May 2, 2023
LOVERRO: Young learns that in the NFL, ‘commitment’ can cut both ways
Young will be a contestant in the Play to Pay Show this fall. Simple rules -- you play, you get paid. And by play, we know it means play worthy of your place when you entered the league as a celebrated rookie -- not the disappointing follow-up season. Published April 27, 2023
LOVERRO: Zero tolerance in the modern sports landscape for abuse, toxicity
Attitudes about work have changed dramatically in the three years since the first reports emerged of former Washington Commanders employees accusing the team of mistreatment and abuse. Published April 26, 2023
LOVERRO: Leonsis’ unhappiness with Sheppard’s truth may be what set Wizards GM free
If your phone rings and it's Transparent Ted Leonsis on the line, don't be surprised. He'll just be asking how to run a winning NBA franchise. Published April 20, 2023
LOVERRO: Former employee’s validation tour against Snyder, Commanders isn’t over
Lost amid all the attention and celebration last week about the sales agreement in place for the Washington Commanders, it is worth noting that the team suffered another defeat recently in the field of shame. Published April 17, 2023
LOVERRO: Dan Snyder’s Looney Tunes reign over Commanders nears an end
The exhilaration that comes with the news about a pending sale will know no boundaries. It goes beyond the few Washington fans left who continued to take the emotional beatings the team gave them for more than two decades. Published April 13, 2023
LOVERRO: Pretending the Wizards are close is just an insult to team’s fans
Here's some "context" for you -- the Wizards haven't won 50 games in an NBA season since 1979. Published April 11, 2023
LOVERRO: Putin may be stymied in Ukraine, but he’s steamrolled the NHL
NHL clubs aren't deciding who celebrates LGBTQ rights, when and how -- Putin is. Published April 4, 2023
LOVERRO: Lerner’s Nationals legacy is a dollop of misery with a dash of World Series glory
Lerner, a native Washingtonian who should have known better, never seemed to either care or understand they needed to aggressively market a sports team in a city where the football team was at the time still a huge, dominant local presence. Published March 29, 2023
LOVERRO: Harris already has a building issue in Philly. Buying Commanders will give him a bigger one
Winning the bidding to own the Commanders will be hard enough. Then the real work starts. Published March 22, 2023
LOVERRO: Heinicke, who brought out the best in teammates, also exposed the limitations of Ron Rivera
Give me the list of players whose names fans at Ghost Town Field chanted in recent years. No, you're not allowed to use opposing players. Published March 15, 2023
LOVERRO: Is billionaire Mitchell Rales the angel the Commanders need?
Mitchell Rales, a local billionaire who publicly espouses -- in some aspects of his life, at least --societal values of decency and humanity, has emerged as an investor in Josh Harris's group bidding to purchase the Washington Commanders. Published March 9, 2023
LOVERRO: Commanders’ treatment of players’ families speaks to a lack of humanity
The treatment of families, perhaps more than any other category, speaks to the Commanders organization's lack of humanity. We are talking about, for the most part, women and children here. Published March 6, 2023
LOVERRO: Skipper Dan has no one but himself to blame
Skipper Dan the Sailing Man has left a multitude of victims and a trail of destruction in his wake over the years. But I wonder if he understands -- when he looks in the mirror every morning -- does he realize he has screwed over the man in front of him as much as anyone? Published March 3, 2023
LOVERRO: Take it to the bank, NFL is going to force Snyder to sell
In the billionaire boys' club of the NFL, Irsay is not without standing. He's won a Super Bowl. He hosted a Super Bowl. And, most importantly to his fellow owners, he got a new stadium built -- Lucas Oil Stadium. Published February 27, 2023
LOVERRO: Arena returns to a crowded group of football B-leagues
The 2-10 Valor were the last-place team in a four-team league that surprised the Baltimore Brigade 69-55 in the league championship game. Published February 23, 2023
