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.

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Columns by Thom Loverro

Washington Nationals manager Dusty Baker (12) signs for fans before a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Saturday, July 2, 2016, in Washington. The Reds won 9-4 in ten innings. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) **FILE**

D.C. sports fans don’t need to prove anything

The Nationals crowd, as well as the team, is now being graded about how they will perform the rest of the season. Nationals manager Dusty Baker indicated while they watch a first-place team, the home crowd isn't exactly in first place. Published July 14, 2016

FILE - In this Oct. 28, 2014, file photo, San Antonio Spurs' Tim Duncan, left, holds up his 2014 NBA championship ring during a ceremony prior to an NBA basketball game between the Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks, in San Antonio. Duncan announced his retirement on Monday, July 11, 2016, after 19 seasons, five championships, two MVP awards and 15 All-Star appearances. It marks the end of an era for the Spurs and the NBA. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

Tim Duncan changed the NBA in a greater way than Kobe and LeBron

Thanks to Boston losing the 1997 draft lottery, Duncan landed in San Antonio where he helped prove small market teams could compete in the modern NBA. Published July 12, 2016

The fight between Riddick Bowe and Andrew Golota led to dozens of other fights in the ring and stands. / AP photo

20 years ago, Riddick Bowe and Andrew Golota fought in a fight no one won

It was one of the ugliest nights in a sport with no shortage of ugly moments. For 22 minutes, hooligans took over the Mecca of boxing and rioted from the ring to the cheap seats. Published July 11, 2016

Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) walks in the dugout during a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Nationals Park, Wednesday, July 6, 2016, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Bryce Harper not making baseball fun again by passing on Home Run Derby

The self-appointed Minister of Fun decided he's not going to participate in the home run derby during the all-star break. Where's the fun in that? Published July 7, 2016

Kevin Durant may have signed with Golden State as a "business decision," so don't pretend it's about lofty goals. (the Oklahoman via Associated Press)

Kevin Durant signing with Golden State Warriors a business decision, nothing personal

It's OK that Kevin Durant's signing with the Golden State Warriors is a business decision. But don't pretend it's about some lofty personal goals. Published July 5, 2016

Joe Don Looney in 1964. (Associated Press)

Joe Don Looney’s place in history

Sonny Jurgensen and Billy Kilmer were both very familiar with former NFL running back Joe Don Looney, both having played with him -- Sonny in Washington and Billy in New Orleans. Published July 3, 2016

Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) pauses on the court during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks, Wednesday, March 23, 2016, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Wizards fans should be lauded for loyalty, not blamed for Kevin Durant’s decisions

John Wall's comments about the Wizards' fan base has Thom Loverro wondering how the team's star can consider the fans of a consistently moribund franchise to blame for no KD2DC. Published June 30, 2016

Teresa Olive, of Knoxville, Tenn., touches a statue of Pat Summitt as she pays her respects at the University of Tennessee, on Tuesday, June 28, 2016, in Knoxville, Tenn. Summitt, the winningest coach in Division I college basketball history who uplifted the women's game from obscurity to national prominence during her career at Tennessee, died Tuesday morning, June 28, 2016. She was 64. (Caithe McMekin/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Pat Summitt leaves a legacy of changed minds to go with a changed game

LOVERRO | Summitt's victories and ability to balance all her life demanded helped make her not just a women's basketball icon, but a generational icon. Published June 28, 2016

Washington Redskins outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan signs autographs for fans during the teams NFL football training camp in Richmond, Va., Thursday, July 30, 2015. (AP Photo/Jason Hirschfeld)

Brexit means Redskins fans remain on their political roll

A poll quells the name debate, then the Brexit occupies British politicians who were upset about the team's nickname. It's even cheap to go to London now. Published June 26, 2016

International Olympic Committee, IOC, President Thomas Bach, from Germany, speaks during a press conference after the Olympic Summit IOC in Lausanne, Switzerland, Tuesday. Olympic leaders met to consider further measures to crack down on doping ahead of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in the wake of the ban on Russian track and field athletes. (Laurent Gillieron/Keystone via AP)

Count FIFA and the IOC among many problems in Rio de Janeiro as Olympics near

Brazil's commitment to the World Cup and Summer Olympics is already causing financial issues. You can blame government greed, the IOC and FIFA for that. Published June 23, 2016

Hall of Famer Bill Russell, left, greets Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James after Game 7 of basketball's NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cavaliers in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, June 19, 2016. The Cavaliers won 93-89. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Bill Russell always the forgotten man in debates over NBA’s greatest ever

Russell stood idly by on Sunday as the Cavaliers' LeBron James was presented with the NBA Finals MVP award. There's a reason the trophy was named after Russell. Published June 21, 2016

In this 1980 photo released by ESPN Films, O.J. Simpson, center, appears at the Buffalo International Airport with his son, Jason, left, and father Jimmy Lee in Buffalo, N.Y. A documentary about Simpson, "O.J.: Made in America," premieres its opening two-hour segment on ABC on Saturday at 9 p.m. EDT, then moves next week to ESPN, where all five editions will air on June 14, 15, 17 and 18. (Mickey Osterreicher/ESPN Films via AP)

ESPN documentary again preys on horror of O.J. Simpson trial

LOVERRO | Our fascination with murder mysteries has led to two lengthy looks at the trial, which spanned the summer of 1994 and provided, for some, an unfulfilling verdict. Published June 19, 2016

Washington Redskins starting quarterback Kirk Cousins (8), grimaces as he throws the ball during the NFL football team's minicamp at the Redskins Park in Ashburn, Va., Wednesday, June 15, 2016. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Kirk Cousins clearly looking forward to contract extension deadline

Cousins and the Redskins are nearing a July 15 deadline to reach a long-term deal. It's already apparent that Cousins figures he'll be able to cash in. Published June 16, 2016

Fans await a baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park, in Washington on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Naming-rights deal for Nationals Park won’t be as creative as the one in Frederick

Facing a shortfall in funding during construction in 1989, the mayor of Frederick found a pleasing solution that led to the park's naming rights. The Nationals won't be as lucky. Published June 14, 2016

Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon (70) prior to a baseball game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs Monday, May 23, 2016, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Michael Thomas) **FILE**

Mike Rizzo, Joe Maddon to see their rivalry among old friends renewed

LOVERRO | The Nationals general manager and Cubs manager became friends 34 years ago when Rizzo played for Maddon in the minor leagues. On Monday, they are rivals once again as the Cubs arrive for an important series. Published June 12, 2016

FILE - In this July 27, 1971, file photo, Referee Jay Edson, left, keeps an eye on the fight between Muhammad Ali and Jimmy Ellis, right, in the 12th round of their heavyweight fight in Houston. Ellis, a former heavyweight boxing champion who trained with fellow Louisville fighter Muhammad Ali and squared off against some of his era's best fighters, has died in his hometown Tuesday, May 6, 2014. He was 74. Ellis' brother, Jerry, said the ex-champion died at a Louisville hospital Tuesday after suffering from Alzheimer's disease in recent years. (AP Photo/File)

Muhammad Ali always stood out among Louisville’s four kings of boxing

LOVERRO | Ali was one of four heavyweight champions to hail from the city, joining Marvin Hart, Greg Page and Jimmy Ellis, with whom Ali forged a lasting friendship. Published June 9, 2016

Muhammad Ali, right, winces as Ken Norton hits him with a left to the head in their scheduled 12-round re-match, Sept. 10, 1973 at the Forum in Inglewood, California. (AP Photo)

Of all of Muhammad Ali’s rivals, perhaps his greatest was Eddie Futch

Futch was the trainer who developed the strategy that Joe Frazier used to defeat Ali in 1971 and who guided Ken Norton through three bouts later in the decade. Published June 7, 2016

Muhammad Ali frowns for the benefit of cameramen on Tuesday, August 16, 1978, during a news conference at his Deer Lake, Pennsylvania Camp. Giant-size glove he wears bears autographs. On a more serious note, Ali told newsmen that the thought &quot;...just four more weeks,&quot; rolls around in his head like a stuck phonograph needle. The four weeks, of course, refers to the September 15 date he has with Leon Spinks in New Orleans. That's when Ali expects to redeem his humiliating defeat of six months ago, when he lost his title to Spinks. (AP Photo/David Pickoff)

LOVERRO: Muhammad Ali embraced people, which is why we embraced him

Ali embraced his role as a spokesman and showman, and his death on Friday at 74 showed just how much he meant to the people who surrounded him in his daily life. Published June 5, 2016

Miami Marlins hitting coach Barry Bonds stands in the dugout during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Sunday, May 15, 2016, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

LOVERRO: Even Barry Bonds’ apologies have become filled with excuses

Bonds recently expressed remorse for having an abrasive personality during his major-league career, but leave it to him to point the finger at others who made him that way. Published June 2, 2016

Fans await a baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park, in Washington on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

LOVERRO: Financial returns on Nationals Park bring vindication to Jack Evans

Evans, the city council member who spearheaded the push to bring baseball back to the city, has been overjoyed by the revitalization that Nationals Park has brought to lower South Capitol Street. Published May 31, 2016