Thom Loverro
Columns by Thom Loverro
Tiger Woods and Alex Rodriguez offer sketchy tales of redemption
The parallels between two of sports greatest performers and pariahs remain remarkable, 43 years after they were born six months apart - Alex Rodriguez on June 27, 1975, and Tiger Woods on Dec. 30, 1975. Published April 18, 2019
Todd Reirden and his best-laid plans hit in the mouth
The Capitals were punched in the mouth Monday night by the Hurricanes in a 5-0 loss to cut Washington's lead in the series to 2-1. The beatdown was nearly as bad as Alex Ovechkin's brutal beating of Carolina's Andrei Svechnikov. Published April 16, 2019
Reuben Foster is cleared but why isn’t clear
Why all these steps put in place for a player who had the charges dropped against him and who, after an investigation by the NFL, was not suspended? Published April 14, 2019
Nicklas Backstrom saves Capitals from a disaster in the making
No one seemed to wear the Washington Capitals' playoff failures more in the locker room in years past than Nicklas Backstrom. Published April 13, 2019
For Nicklas Backstrom and Capitals, the hits keep coming
For Game 1 Thursday night against the Carolin Hurricanes -- the first playoff defense of Washington's Stanley Cup championship -- fans were treated to a pregame highlight reel reliving all the great memories of last season's victories and celebrations. Then the Capitals did the video one better. Published April 12, 2019
Josh Rosen has strong arm, strong opinions
Josh Rosen was taken at No. 10 a year ago, but the Arizona Cardinals quarterback could still be one of the biggest stories at this month's upcoming NFL draft. Published April 11, 2019
Braden Holtby and Capitals: No ghosts
As the Washington Capitals prepare for the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, with Game 1 Thursday night against the Carolina Hurricanes, the coffee should taste a little sweeter than normal this time of year in the Capitals locker room. Published April 9, 2019
Todd Reirden gets big test in NHL playoffs
The Capitals are about to begin defending the trophy that set this city ablaze last year -- and they will be doing it with Todd Reirden, not Barry Trotz, at the helm, with Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals Thursday night against the Carolina Hurricanes at Capital One Arena. Published April 7, 2019
Ernie Grunfeld enabled Wizards’ toxic culture
Personnel failures alone should have sent Ernie Grunfeld packing long before this week. But it was his kneecapping of coaches that was most unforgivable. Published April 4, 2019
Bryce Harper, the prodigal bro
Life inside the Harper vortex. Sometimes exhilarating. Often exhausting. Published April 2, 2019
Bryce Harper return will have fans split
What kind of welcome should the Nationals and their fans have Tuesday, when the lover who left them behind, Bryce Harper, returns to Nationals Park for the first time as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies? Published March 31, 2019
Dave Martinez preached fundamentals, but Nationals lacked them on opening day
It was opening day 2019, but the game had a 2018 Washington Nationals feel to it - base running blunders, backfiring bullpen moves and a fundamentally flawed performance. Published March 28, 2019
Max Scherzer takes Harper’s spot on throne
The former king of Nationals Park has left town. Now the realm belongs to Max Scherzer, who will take the mound Thursday afternoon on Opening Day at Nationals Park against his rival Cy Young winner from last season, the New York Mets' Jacob deGrom. Published March 26, 2019
Tom Izzo meltdown wrong, even if he is a legend
Michigan State strongman Tom Izzo will be coming to town this week as part of the NCAA Tournament East Regionals at the Capital One Arena. It hasn't been determined yet if extra D.C. police will be assigned to protect his players from their beloved coach. Published March 24, 2019
Lamont Peterson part of great week in D.C. sports
It's one of those weeks coming up in the Washington area -- one of those special weeks when the sports menu is full of great local choices. Published March 21, 2019
Mike Trout cuts short Harper bragging rights
Bryce Harper and his agent had what they most wanted -- baseball's richest contract. For 19 days, at least. Published March 19, 2019
Landon Collins comes with hidden costs
How much better is Landon Collins than D.J. Swearinger? Is he that much better than Swearinger? Published March 17, 2019
Dan Snyder still feels the Sean Taylor pain
The Landon Collins signing -- six years, $84 million, with $45 million, mind you, of that guaranteed -- appears to be a Dan Snyder-driven move. It's a high-priced, high-profile early free agency attention-grabber. Published March 14, 2019
Russell Westbrook’s run-in with Utah Jazz fans is NBA’s latest public relations nightmare
For a league that took years to recover from the "Malice in the Palace," when players went into the stands and attacked fans, the NBA can't sit idly by as one of its stars threatens fans as if he was in a nightclub and someone bumped into him or looked at him the wrong way. Published March 12, 2019
Tom Seaver made being Mets fan cool
The news last week that 74-year-old Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver is suffering from dementia and is retiring from public life shook the city of New York and Mets fans, both of whom have been given a lifetime of memories by one of the greatest right-handed hurlers to ever pick up a baseball. Published March 10, 2019