Thom Loverro
Columns by Thom Loverro
LOVERRO: Rafael Soriano make you nervous? Don’t hate — appreciate
It's not that Nationals fans don't feel connected to their team's closer. Their connection is anxiety. But for now, take your hands away from your eyes and show a little love for the 34-year-old Dominican who untucks his jersey after every save. He's telling you to relax. Published May 15, 2014
LOVERRO: Remembering Joe Louis at 100, a heavyweight champ like no other
When Joe Louis was the heavyweight champion, they held title fights in ballparks, with 70,000 people on hand, and the heavyweight championship was the most important title in the world. Published May 13, 2014
LOVERRO: Accountability begins anew with Redskins’ draft class
Defensive end Trent Murphy? That's on this crew's tab. So is offensive tackle Moses Morgan and the six other players they selected in the 2014 draft. Published May 11, 2014
LOVERRO: Redskins history shows you don’t need first-round draft picks to excel
The Redskins had a selection in the first round of the NFL draft just three times — three times — from 1969 to 1990. And they managed to do just fine without one. With the opportunity to pick in the top round in the draft only three times, the Redskins had a remarkable record of 205-118. Published May 8, 2014
LOVERRO: Drew Gooden, the Verizon Center houseguest who never left
Gooden is on the roster because Nene got in trouble this season — the typical Nene injury trouble— and Wizards general manager Ernie Grunfeld is a nice guy. Being nice paid off for Washington Monday night in Indianapolis . Published May 6, 2014
LOVERRO: Wizards are the real deal, but enjoy them while you can
They exceeded expectations basketball-wise and heart-wise by handling the experienced Chicago Bulls in five games, and it's reasonable to see this team beating Indiana and likely facing the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals. Beyond this season, though ... Published May 4, 2014
LOVERRO: Bob Dandridge likes what he sees in current brand of D.C. hoops
"The city is getting behind this team," said the 66-year-old former Bullets star. "There is an enthusiasm and excitement there now. And the players can feel the excitement that something big is going to happen." Published May 1, 2014
Mike Shanahan is gone; time for RG3, Redskins to get busy livin’
We've heard subtlely and not so subtlely that Mike Shanahan held talent hostage. Now that he's gone, it seems everyone at Redskins Park is feeling like Andy Dufresne walking on a Mexican beach. Published April 30, 2014
LOVERRO: Nene-less Wizards come up big when it was absolutely necessary
Up 2-1 in the series, after losing Game 3 at home, Game 4 was of course a big game. You don't want to go back to Chicago with the series even at 2-2 – especially, when, for anyone watching this series, it's obvious the Bulls can't match the Wizards talent. Published April 27, 2014
LOVERRO: Nene gives Wizards a foundation they never had in Arenas era
There may be no truer cliché in sports than defense winning championships. Playoff teams that can't play defense fall by the wayside quickly. This Wizards squad is led by a player with a brain, heart and conscience. Published April 24, 2014
LOVERRO: Why celebrate ‘Bad Boys’ when ‘Eden’ awaits?
The Detroit Pistons teams that filled the void following the Magic and Bird era, and did so with elbows, fists, and bad basketball. There is nothing to celebrate about those championship teams. They should be buried, not praised. Look around, children of that time, for something better — something that was beautiful. Published April 22, 2014
LOVERRO: Bryce Harper-Mike Trout comparisons may be a career-long thing
Mike Trout and his Los Angeles Angels teammates come to Washington for a three-game series at Nationals Park, the first time that Trout and Harper will be on the field as Major League Baseball competitors. Published April 20, 2014
LOVERRO: On the Wizards’ trip to Brazil, a miracle happened
The Washington Wizards Most Valuable Player is 83 years old, stands 98 feet tall, weighs, 700 tons, is made of reinforced concrete and soapstone and sits on top of a 2,300-foot mountain. Published April 17, 2014
LOVERRO: Capitals’ major challenge is finding someone who can win with Alex Ovechkin
George McPhee has failed to capitalize on the success of one of the best goal scorers of his time, a three-time NHL Most Valuable Player. That's what all this comes down to. He hasn't figured out how to win with Alex Ovechkin. Published April 15, 2014
LOVERRO: Bo Belinsky, Sonny Liston share a cemetery - one found peace, the other didn’t
I figured I owed Sonny a moment in the sun. He settled in Vegas in his final years, but never found peace. Then again, this town is the last place to find that kind of peace. Bo Belinsky, though, did. Published April 13, 2014
LOVERRO: Injured hand didn’t keep Scott Christopher from a life of baseball and art
The strange, curious, painful and wonderful life of Scott Christopher has taken the path from a Falls Church park to the pages of Sports Illustrated to the dugout with Cal Ripken to a private moment with Michael Jackson that produced what is considered the greatest photograph ever of the pop icon. Published April 10, 2014
LOVERRO: It’s time for the Wizards to be bold and go get John Calipari
John Calipari can coach. Sometimes all the bombast and hair gel gets in the way of noticing that. But his Kentucky team's run to the NCAA title game this year – even though it lost to Connecticut -- woke people up to Calapari the coach. Published April 8, 2014
LOVERRO: Gary Williams earned Hall of Fame through sweat equity
Gary Williams sweated his way to fame, and those who watched him get the most out of his teams, from American University to the University of Maryland, admired and enjoyed every bead of sweat, because you knew it was devoted to winning. Published April 6, 2014
LOVERRO: Nationals have a chance to set the tone early vs. Braves
This weekend at Nationals Park, starting Friday at the home opener when Washington faces the Atlanta Braves, is Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Roberto Duran. It's this coming season's Washington Redskins opener vs. the Philadelphia Eagles (bet on it). Published April 3, 2014
LOVERRO: DeSean Jackson’s red flags don’t seem to worry Redskins
The reality is that most NFL franchises could field a special teams unit full of players with red flags. If teams stayed away from players with bad associations and outrageous lifestyles, the NFL would be 7 on 7 football. Published April 1, 2014
