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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

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry, left, shoots next to Oklahoma City Thunder's Paul George (13) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Shoe companies and the 3-point line killing the game

While much of the attention in basketball is being paid right now to the college basketball payment and corruption scandal, there's another crisis facing the game -- one far more complicated, but perhaps sharing the same disease -- the quality of the game itself. Published February 27, 2018

Texas guard Eric Davis Jr. celebrates a teammate's three pointer during an NCAA college basketball game against Oklahoma State in Austin, Texas, on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018. (Nick Wagner /Austin American-Statesman via AP)

LOVERRO: Nothing will change after NCAA scandal

CBS and Turner Broadcasting are about to begin broadcasting their Super Bowl: March Madness, the NCAA tournament that consumes much of the country for three weeks. And nothing -- certainly not some little scandal that involves up to 20 Division I schools -- is going to get in the way of their television show. Published February 25, 2018

Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer throws a bullpen session during spring training baseball practice Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) **FILE**

Max Scherzer says Rizzo deserves long-term deal

The Washington Nationals have a lot invested in Max Scherzer -- a seven-year, $210 million contract signed two years ago -- but Scherzer had a lot invested in the Nationals' future as well. Published February 21, 2018

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) jogs to the dugout during Game 1 of baseball's National League Division Series against the Chicago Cubs, at Nationals Park, Friday, Oct. 6, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Stephen Strasburg, Bryce Harper fueled rebirth of baseball in D.C.

Six years after they first took the field together, it appears this may be the final year of the Nationals' Strasburg-Harper tag team of dreams -- and their last chance together to fulfill what at one time seemed to be their destiny. Published February 20, 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)

Bryce Harper tells media: No questions about contract

The Washington Nationals superstar, entering his final contract year, met with those he wants to wall off -- the media -- on Monday at Nationals spring training and declared that he would only be answering questions related to the 2018 season. Published February 19, 2018

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