Thom Loverro
Columns by Thom Loverro
LOVERRO: Urgency avoids Capitals, who again face elimination after big series lead
The Capitals needed to approach Game 6 on Sunday night as if it were they, and not the Rangers, who were on the brink of being eliminated. And, in typical fashion, they folded. Published May 10, 2015
LOVERRO: Point blame at Manny Pacquiao for Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight debacle
Much of the outrage is directed toward Pacquiao and the fact that he had injured his shoulder while training and failed to disclose it to Nevada boxing officials. That resulting in his inability to receive a pain-killing shot the night of the fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Published May 10, 2015
LOVERRO: Floyd Mayweather Jr. got his money’s worth, but the fans didn’t
There were a lot of angry people who were $100 lighter after watching Mayweather surgically take apart Manny Pacquiao on his way to a unanimous decision in their much-anticipated 12-round showdown at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday night. They paid to watch Sugar Ray Leonard-Roberto Duran I. Instead, they got Leonard-Duran II. Published May 3, 2015
LOVERRO: Floyd Mayweather Jr., Manny Pacquiao setting stage for future of boxing
Executives from rival networks joined together to help make the superfight happen, but interest in the sport when the fight is over will be dictated by what happens with the top fighters afterward. Published April 30, 2015
LOVERRO: Leonard Ellerbe among the first to see something in Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Ellerbe became Mayweather’s advisor in 1997, shortly after he began his professional career. Now, 18 years later, he stands front and center of what will likely be the most lucrative fight in the history of boxing. Published April 28, 2015
LOVERRO: DeMarcus Corley valuable as Floyd Mayweather’s sparring partner
No one who has fought Mayweather, undefeated at 47-0 in his nearly 20-year career, has ever had the talented fighter in as much trouble as Corley, a Washington native, once did. Published April 26, 2015
LOVERRO: Former local public relations gurus in Floyd Mayweather Jr., Manny Pacquiao corners
You may see Sternburg and Swanson in and out of the ring on May 2 for the much-anticipated Mayweather-Pacquiao fight in Las Vegas, protecting the fighters as their respective public relations representatives. Published April 23, 2015
LOVERRO: Scot McCloughan’s draft misses just as important as his successes
McCloughan came to Washington with a long list of testimonials from NFL insiders and observers as perhaps one of the best talent evaluators in the league. But how do we judge that? Published April 21, 2015
LOVERRO: Alex Rodriguez’s perpetual lying clouds his early-season success
Do you believe A-Rod — a serial liar and con artist — when he tells reporters, like he did after Friday night's game in Tampa, that he's "just feeling very grateful to be back playing baseball"? Published April 19, 2015
LOVERRO: Philipp Grubauer helps bail out Capitals on short-term notice
The goaltender the Capitals had come to rely on this year was replaced by a relative stranger — Grubauer, a 23-year-old German who was fully expecting to battle for the Calder Cup. Published April 17, 2015
LOVERRO: Loyal Washington sports fans tired of getting slapped in face
Disappointment is the norm, and Washington sports fans have battle fatigue, fighting what has been a two-decade war — the last time the Washington Redskins won a Super Bowl. Published April 16, 2015
LOVERRO: Capitals’ opening performance a disappointment in many ways
There was no home-ice advantage Wednesday night at the Verizon Center. It was almost as if first-round fatigue from years of early exits had set in, even though the Capitals didn't even make the playoffs last year. Published April 15, 2015
LOVERRO: Nationals’ expectations have taken quite a hit in dismal first week
The Nationals are finding new ways to lose, and hiding the sharp objects may be a good idea. Lofty expectations were reasonable, but those expectations have taken a hit over the first week of the season. Published April 14, 2015
LOVERRO: As time wages on, Capitals fans want Cups, not milestones
We've gone from the presence of promise to the expectation of disappointment, and fans are left basking in the glow of Ovechkin and Backstrom's impressive, historic numbers. Still, one question lingers: Will they ever do it? Published April 12, 2015
LOVERRO: Lamont Peterson steps into the spotlight on Saturday night TV showcase
Titles or not, it could be a big step forward for Peterson, the Washington native who has won his last three fights and will face undefeated Danny Garcia in a 143-pound catch weight fight at Barclays Center. Published April 9, 2015
LOVERRO: Despite lacking big bat, runs sure to come for Nationals’ offense
Washington ranked in the upper half in baseball of nearly every offensive category last season, yet some came away from the opener believing the Nationals were an offensive disaster and this year will be more of the same. Published April 7, 2015
LOVERRO: With all eyes on Max Scherzer, Bartolo Colon silences Nationals
Great pitching is supposed to overcome all. The guy on the mound with the ball still has control of the game. On Monday, in the Nationals' 3-1 loss to the Mets, it was the 41-year-old Colon. Published April 6, 2015
LOVERRO: Nationals clubhouse manager Mike Wallace has seen it all over 10 years
Wallace, perhaps more than any member of the orphaned franchise that became the Washington Nationals in 2005, appreciated the moment when he arrived at RFK Stadium to set up shop for the return of baseball to D.C. Published April 5, 2015
LOVERRO: A Cuban connection through the love of baseball
When the news broke not long ago about the United States and Cuba attempting to restore diplomatic ties — and baseball commissioner Rob Manfred's plan to play an exhibition game on the island in 2016 — it brought back the memories of a lifetime for Bethesda's Mike Bryan. Published April 2, 2015
LOVERRO: Injuries causing Nationals’ Opening Day lineup to have unfamiliar look
When you see your Washington Nationals take the field Monday afternoon for their opener at Nationals Park against the New York Mets, you will indeed need a scorecard. Published March 31, 2015
