Thom Loverro
Columns by Thom Loverro
Max Scherzer adds luster to city’s MLB legacy
Some of Max Scherzer's contemporaries have better numbers in certain categories. But Scherzer has excelled in one metric likely to trump all: three Cy Young awards -- and counting. Published November 16, 2017
Jerry Jones isn’t going anywhere
The war between Jones and his fellow NFL owners is escalating -- in part because, I suspect that it wouldn't take much to convince the other owners to stick a fork in the Cowboys' big mouth owner. I suspect, save for Snyder, a blowhard like Jones doesn't endear loyalty. Published November 14, 2017
Home-field advantage a rarity for Snyder’s Redskins
You wouldn't have had to wait until Redskins fans were already sitting in traffic, fleeing the scene, to determine that the Redskins do not enjoy what is known as in other stadiums as home-field advantage. You could see it at kickoff, with about 15,000 empty seats and perhaps another 15,000 Vikings fans in purple. Published November 12, 2017
Al Bumbry, former Oriole, learned lessons in Vietnam
Al Bumbry, like many who played in Baltimore, was brought up on the "Oriole Way," a philosophical approach to the craft of baseball that ran through the organization, particularly during the glory years. But it was in Vietnam that he learned about life and leadership. Published November 9, 2017
Kirk Cousins continues to rise, on the field and off
There was a glimpse of the possibilities of Kirk Cousins on Sunday in his poise under pressure. His composure surrounded by chaos. Published November 7, 2017
Robert Griffin III blames everyone for fall in Washington except Daniel Snyder
Maybe the only thing worse than a fraud playing the victim is a fraud playing the victim with no one paying attention. Published November 5, 2017
Dave Martinez tells Lerners what they want to hear
It may have been a press conference, but the only person Dave Martinez was really talking to was sitting eight feet away -- Ted Lerner. Published November 2, 2017
Mike Rizzo’s contract needs to be Nationals’ next move
From all accounts, Dave Martinez is a good man and a good baseball mind. But let's face it: He was Mike Rizzo's second choice. Published October 31, 2017
Soggy Redskins-Cowboys rivalry lacks fire of old
The rivalry between the Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys used to be "to the bone," Redskins Hall of Fame receiver Charley Taylor once told me. "To the marrow." Now it's boneless. Published October 29, 2017
Soggy Redskins-Cowboys rivalry far cry from fiery past
The rivalry between the Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys used to be "to the bone," Redskins Hall of Fame receiver Charley Taylor once told me. "To the marrow." Now it's boneless. Published October 29, 2017
Joe Girardi’s availability complicates Nationals next move
That sound you hear coming from South Capitol Street is the Lerner family gasping for air from Joe Girardi's foot on their collective throats. Published October 26, 2017
Eagles’ ascent began against Washington last December
Last December's narrow Redskins win over the Eagles should have made Jay Gruden nervous about what lay ahead for his team in the NFC East. Published October 24, 2017
Dusty Baker learns Nationals can’t be trusted
Dusty Baker should have forced the Lerners to pay him or fire him. He would have been better off. Published October 22, 2017
Dusty Baker’s ouster came from the top
Firing Dusty Baker was an ownership decision, Thom Loverro says. At what point will general manager Mike Rizzo stop taking the public lumps for them? Published October 20, 2017
To be a fan in D.C. is to embrace heartache
It was a subdued crowd, but who would expect much more from the seventh game of an 82-game schedule that no one should expect to lead to anything -- other than, perhaps, something like a 9-8 Game 5 loss to the Cubs. A 115-105 Game 7 loss to the Boston Celtics. A 19-10 season-ending loss to the New York Giants. Or, of course, a 2-0 Game 7 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Published October 19, 2017
LOVERRO: The gangster, the gamble and the horse that paid off
One hundred years ago Wednesday, Oct. 18, gangster Arnold Rothstein made perhaps his biggest score ever at Laurel Race Course in Maryland in what was one of the most celebrated horse races to date. Published October 17, 2017
Sunday’s game adds to Shanahan’s case for Cousins
Here's Kyle Shanahan's case for Kirk Cousins to come play for him next season: "Kirk, I nearly just beat your heavily favored team on the road with a kid fresh out of college who had barely stepped on an NFL football field. Imagine what the two of us can do together." Published October 15, 2017
LOVERRO: Meltdown all-too-familiar for Washington fans
It was a $230 million Scott Boras meltdown production, as his two clients, Scherzer and Wieters, combined for a series of plays that I might say was a comedy of errors, but there was nothing funny about it Published October 13, 2017
Solve crisis by taking players out of the patriotism business
Whatever the reasons were for the NFL and the Defense Department to get into the patriotism business together, those reasons have been drowned by the debate over players kneeling in protest during the playing of the national anthem before the start of NFL games. Published October 12, 2017
Stephen Strasburg’s legacy on line now
This could be the ugliest Washington Nationals postseason exit yet, and that's saying something. Published October 10, 2017