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Thom Loverro

Thom Loverro

Thom Loverro has been a professional journalist since 1977, working for a number of newspapers, including eight years as a news editor and reporter for The Baltimore Sun, where he covered government, politics, and crime. He moved into sports writing when he joined The Washington Times in 1992. He moved to The Washington Examiner as a sports columnist in 2009 and returned to The Washington Times in 2013, where he is currently the lead sports columnist.

Columns by Thom Loverro

FILE - In this Dec. 16, 2017, file photo, Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez speaks with the media during the baseball club's Winter Fest celebration with fans at Washington Convention Center in Washington. Tirst-time manager Dave Martinez takes over the team that has won two consecutive NL East titles but never won a playoff series.(AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

Dave Martinez dips into Dusty Baker’s human resources playbook

It's still hard to believe that the manager who led that team to those 97 wins --Dusty Baker -- is gone, replaced by a rookie skipper in Dave Martinez, who would be hailed as a great manager if he can match those victories. Published February 16, 2018

Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer threw 60 pitches during a bullpen session on Thursday in West Palm Beach, Florida. "It's just my normal routine of how I get ready for the season," Scherzer said. "For me, I like to get on the mound, feel some fatigue and work through it." (Associated Press).

Max Scherzer needs to end as dominant as he begins

It was the first team workout of spring training for the Washington Nationals -- a voluntary one, pitchers and catchers -- but Max Scherzer was in midseason form. Published February 15, 2018

FILE - In this Oct. 12, 2017 file photo, Washington Nationals catcher Matt Wieters listens to a question during a media availability before Game 5 of baseball's National League Division Series against the Chicago Cubs at Nationals Park, in Washington. Wieters is exercising his $10.5 million contract option for next season with the Washington Nationals. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Matt Wieters has no time to dwell in the past

There was a lot that went wrong for the Nationals in Game 5 of last October's National League Division Series loss to the Cubs. It was a team meltdown. But Matt Wieters' fifth-inning contribution was a big part of it. Published February 14, 2018

FILE - In this Oct. 12, 2017, file photo, Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) walks in the dugout before Game 5 of baseball's National League Division Series against the Chicago Cubs, at Nationals Park in Washington. There will be one very important question hovering over Harper and the Nationals throughout spring training and the entire 2018 season: Will this be his last year with the club? (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

Nationals carry the burden of Lerner expectations

Good news for Washington Nationals owner Ted Lerner. When he gets to West Palm Beach for spring training, he'll find the World Series trophy there. Granted, it will be on the Houston Astros' side of the training facility they share with the Nationals, but at least he can get close to it. Published February 13, 2018

FILE - In this Nov. 20, 2016 file photo, the sun sets behind FedEx Field before an NFL football game between the Washington Redskins and the Green Bay Packers in Landover, Md. Three politicians in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia are teaming up across partisan lines to try and prevent their governments from waging a bidding war with public money to build a new stadium for the Washington Redskins. The liberal Democrat in Maryland, conservative Republican in Virginia and left-leaning independent District of Columbia Council member have introduced legislation to set up an interstate compact barring any public spending on incentives for a new stadium. The current lease at FedEx Field in suburban Maryland ends in 2027 and the team is exploring new potential locations. (AP Photo/J. David Ake) ** FILE **

Ted Leonsis signals new direction

Was last week's announcement of $40 million in renovations at Capital One Arena an indication that building owner Ted Leonsis has given up his quest for a new arena at the RFK site? Published February 11, 2018

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach speaks at a news conference prior to the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Olympics as sleazy as sports get

We are about to be subjected to two weeks of television -- the 2018 Winter Olympics -- that is as fraudulent as any reality program you can find. Published February 8, 2018

FILE - In this Feb. 3, 2000, Vince McMahon, chairman of the World Wrestling Federation, speaks during a news conference in New York. The XFL is set for a surprising second life, McMahon announced Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018. McMahon said the XFL would return in 2020 but offered few other details about the late winter/early spring football league. (AP Photo/Ed Bailey, File) **FILE**

Vince McMahon’s white whale is the XFL

Two years from now, perhaps shortly after the final gun of Super Bowl 54, Vince McMahon will set sail on the sports media sea in his quest to hunt down his white whale -- the XFL, resurrecting the body of his failed football league. Published February 6, 2018

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady fumbles after being stripped by Philadelphia Eagles Brandon Graham in the fourth quarter at Super Bowl 52 on Sunday, February 4, 2018 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)

One less reason to lord it over Eagles fans

If you have a one-score lead against the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, the last thing you want to see is Tom Brady with the football in his hand. Published February 4, 2018

If former Washington Redskins offensive tackle Joe Jacoby gets into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the list of remaining Redskins worth induction into Canton gets a lot smaller. (Associated Press)

Joe Jacoby snub is proof Hall of Fame is broken

If Dallas Cowboys legendary defensive tackle Randy White had been in the room when the votes were being cast for the 2018 Pro Football Hall of Fame class, Joe Jacoby would be in. Published February 4, 2018

FILE - In this Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017 file photo, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) looks for a receiver during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Kansas City, Mo. Two people with direct knowledge of the trade say the Kansas City Chiefs have agreed to deal quarterback Alex Smith to the Washington Redskins. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because it can’t be completed until the start of the new league year in March. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Alex Smith instead of Cousins? Could work

The last time the Washington Redskins made a trade for a 33-year-old starting quarterback with coach Andy Reid, it didn't turn out too well. Published January 30, 2018

FILE - In this Jan. 10, 2018, file photo, Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) pauses on the court during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz in Washington. Wall will have arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Wednesday and could miss much of the rest of the regular season, the Wizards announced Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

No bench, no backup now means no Wall for Wizards

If they someday make a film about the John Wall Wizards, they may call it "I, Ernie." Like Tonya Harding, the Wizards general manager didn't swing a baton to damage Wall's knees. But Ernie Grunfeld is certainly a co-conspirator. Published January 30, 2018

In this July 11, 2017, file photo, former MLB player Alex Rodriguez reports from the field during the MLB baseball All-Star Game in Miami. Rodriguez, ESPN’s new Sunday night analyst, doesn’t mind the lengthening time it takes to play a big league game. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

Alex Rodriguez worms his way back

Who knows what the voters for baseball's Hall of Fame will think in 2021 -- the first of 10 years A-Rod could be eligible for election? Published January 28, 2018

FILE - In this July 23, 2007, file photo, New York Yankees starting pitcher Roger Clemens throws to a Kansas City Royals batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Kansas City, Mo. Clemens and Barry Bonds fell short in elections to the baseball Hall of Fame. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga, File)

Time is running out on baseball’s cheaters

Despite the cries from the Cheated Generation about the persecution of "victims" like Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, tantrums have failed to give either Clemens or Bonds the momentum needed to reach the 75 percent threshold for entry. Published January 25, 2018

Scot McCloughan, right, speaks during an NFL football press conference where he was introduced as the Washington Redskins new general manager, Friday, Jan. 9, 2015, in Ashburn, Va. At left is Washington Redskins president Bruce Allen. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) **FILE**

Bruce Allen needs to be fired if Cousins walks

When Kirk Cousins goes out the door and signs as a free agent with another team -- a seemingly forgone conclusion -- the Redskins' Prince of Darkness should be kicked out right behind him. Published January 23, 2018

CORRECTS SPELLING TO DIGGS NOT RIGGS Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) celebrates in the end zone after a game winning touchdown against the New Orleans Saints during the second half of an NFL divisional football playoff game in Minneapolis, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018. The Vikings defeated the Saints 29-24. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Stefon Diggs, NFL give us a game for history

And now the world will wake up Monday morning to the greatness of Stefon Diggs, who pulled down a dramatic game-winning catch with the clock running down to zero and led the Vikings to a 29-24 come-from-behind victory over the New Orleans Saints that they will talk about for years in the land of 10,000 lakes. Published January 14, 2018