Thom Loverro
Columns by Thom Loverro
Jackie Robinson once faced a Kyler Murray-like decision between baseball and football
In the middle of this week-long celebration of football leading up to the most popular sporting event in America -- the Super Bowl -- a year-long celebration of the 100th birthday of arguably the most important athlete in American history will begin. Jackie Robinson didn't play football. But he could have -- and may have wound up one of the all-time greats. Published January 29, 2019
NFL’s gambling boom will come with a price
If Art Schlichter is in good enough shape to sit in front of a microphone when he is released from federal prison, he will likely be the star of radio row at the Super Bowl a few years from now. Published January 27, 2019
Mike Mussina crafted his Hall of Fame work in Baltimore
It was his 10 years in Baltimore where Mussina separated himself as a future Hall of Famer. Published January 24, 2019
Dan Snyder still meddling
They like to say there are only 32 head coaching jobs in the NFL. The reality is that there are only 31, and then there is the Redskins job. It stands alone in the league, with more baggage than a Diana Ross tour. Published January 22, 2019
Bill Belichick, Dark Knight, vs Sean McVay, Golden Boy
Super Bowl LIII will be a matchup of the old and new NFL genius -- arguably the greatest coach in the history of the league versus the prototype of the 21st-century football coach. Published January 20, 2019
Micah Bowie, Ex-Nationals pitcher, needs help from players union to stay alive
The costs to keep him alive have been prohibitive, and taken its toll on his family. Bowie qualified for government disability payments, but that didn't come close to helping pay his medical bills. So Bowie went to his union -- the Major League Baseball Players Association -- for help. There was none. Published January 17, 2019
Baseball Hall of Famers should be selected for impact, not just stats
Voting has already taken place among the eligible baseball writers, and the results will be revealed on Tuesday, Jan. 22. Many ballots have already been made public by voters, and I'll make mine public here. But as I have often said, the vote often turns into a venom-filled referendum on truth and justice instead of simply a decision about a baseball player's career. Published January 15, 2019
Bruce Allen’s stranglehold on Redskins tightens with Brian Lafemina’s departure
Yes, of course Allen is coming back. He didn't drive Lafemina and his team from the building only to surrender power. Not only is Allen, who has become the object of the wrath of an angry Redskins fan base, staying on as team president in charge of football operations, but he is taking over the business side as well -- the job that Lafemina had. Allen drank Lafemina's milk shake. Published January 13, 2019
Larry Doby never played for Senators, but his impact was still felt in Washington
If his fate had been a little different, Doby would have made history right here in the District of Columbia, as the first black man to play for the Washington Senators. Published January 10, 2019
Lamar Jackson feelings do not trump trying to win
Ravens players complaining about their hometown fans ... Sound familiar? At a time when the game is being criticized by hard-liners for being too soft on the field, its players appear to be softening to playing for anyone other than Kool-Aid drinkers in the stands. Published January 8, 2019
Donna Wilkinson, female footballer, still blazing trails
Donna Wilkinson is something the league hasn't seen before -- a female uniform inspector. Published January 6, 2019
Reuben Foster now the Redskins’ problem after the fallout
The domestic violence charges against Reuben Foster in Florida have been dropped, but the Washington Redskins should hold off on the champagne. Published January 3, 2019
Jay Gruden surprisingly honest about Redskins’ need for change
For a moment the day after their standard embarrassing season-ending 24-0 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles -- almost 24 hours since his team finished 7-9 for the second straight season -- Gruden showed a glimpse of Honest Jay, and I think it was revealing. Published January 1, 2019
Daniel Snyder brings Joe Gibbs back for unholy mess of Redskins loss
Not that we needed any more proof that Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder has no capacity for embarrassment, but Sunday at Ghost Town Field there was yet more evidence of his lack of perspective. He brought Redskins coaching legend Joe Gibbs to the game. Published December 30, 2018
Redskins’ ‘do the right thing’ era was doomed from the start
The Christmas purge of Redskins chief operating officer Brian Lafemina and his band of suits -- chief marketing officer Steve Ziff, senior vice president of sales and marketing Jake Bye and chief commercial officer Todd Kline -- took far less time than I predicted a month ago. Published December 27, 2018
D.J. Swearinger’s release shows honesty is best way to escape Redskins’ asylum
The way to escape the madness of Redskins Park is by telling the world how bad things are. Who knew honesty would be so rewarded by this organization? Published December 25, 2018
D.J. Swearinger reminds us all who Redskins are
After Saturday's game, safety D.J. Swearinger reminded everyone of the poisonous dysfunction that defines this generation of Washington Redskins, from the boardroom to the locker room. Published December 23, 2018
Josh Johnson has a big fan in San Diego
Dave Boller is rooting for something in the Washington Redskins game Saturday against the Tennessee Titans. He's just not sure what. Published December 20, 2018
Ted Leonsis has broken his promises on Wizards
There are many things on this list of promises that Wizards owner Ted Leonsis has accomplished, in terms of the arena experience, re-engage with alumni and other points. But the first thing on the list stands out for its sheer hypocrisy: "More transparency concerning strategy and plans via more connection with fans." Published December 18, 2018
NFL now needs giveaways, promotions to lure fans to games
In today's NFL, with swaths of empty seats in stadiums across the country, it has come to this -- giveaways to get fans in the door. Published December 16, 2018
