Thom Loverro
Columns by Thom Loverro
LOVERRO: CBS Sports leaves broadcasters hanging in Redskins name debate
This winter, CBS paid $250 million for the rights to broadcast eight Thursday night games. Upon announcing the deal, Sean McManus declared, "The NFL is the most powerful programming in television." Apparently, not as powerful as any broadcasters who, after announcing Redskins games throughout their career, may have suddenly decided they can't live with themselves anymore and will no longer use the name. Published July 22, 2014
LOVERRO: Who are the men behind D.C. 2024 curtain?
The local Olympics bid is likely going to be some form of Maryland, D.C., and Virginia effort. Local organizers are trying to do all they can to hide their bid and keep the public in the dark as long as possible, until, perhaps, through some sort of cursed miracle, all of a sudden you wake up one morning and find out the Olympics are coming to the Washington region in 2024. Published July 20, 2014
LOVERRO: Ian Desmond could follow Jeter model in D.C.
Jeter hit the trifecta for a sports icon — money, love and respect. Desmond should have been paying close attention to Derek Jeter's All-Star evening. He, too, has that rare opportunity to win that triple crown. Published July 17, 2014
LOVERRO: Red Klotz an unquestioned winner despite 14,000 losses
Klotz, who died Saturday at 93, was best known for being the coach of the biggest losers the game of basketball has ever seen — the Washington Generals, the patsy for the Harlem Globetrotters — from 1953 to 1995. He lost and lost and lost. And people loved him for it. Published July 15, 2014
LOVERRO: As King James returns home, all is forgiven
James was the best player on the Miami Heat, leading them to four straight Eastern Conference titles and two NBA championships. But he was never the most beloved player on that team — the man. Now James returns to the Cavaliers, more empowered than ever, ruling over a basketball franchise that will surely respond to his every whim, however petty, to keep the King happy. Published July 13, 2014
LOVERRO: Suck-up Buck Showalter needs history lesson
Buck, the reason for the very existence of the franchise you work for now is because the owner of the Washington Senators was kind enough to let them have a team in Baltimore. And the reason you have this wonderful ballpark to play in is because of Washington and its baseball fans. Published July 10, 2014
LOVERRO: Jordan Zimmermann validates wisdom of Nats’ Strasburg shutdown plan
I'm not going to argue the merits of the Strasburg shutdown yet again. But often overlooked in all the debate about Strasburg was the fact that this was the recovery plan the organization came up with for the pitcher who preceded Strasburg in the surgery and recovery path — and has made two All-Star teams since returning. Published July 8, 2014
LOVERRO: ‘Ulterior motives’ at Redskins Park — but who was to blame?
It's not a stretch to reason that Robert Griffin III has taken another veiled shot at former coach Mike Shanahan and/or his son, former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. But we don't know, because he didn't pin the ulterior motives on anyone in particular. Published July 6, 2014
LOVERRO: ‘Luckiest man’ Lou Gehrig gave us gift of perspective 75 years ago
On Friday, July 4th, America will rediscover its connection with Lou Gehrig by the reminder of the courage of the Iron Horse's words on July 4th, 1939 — 75 years ago, when a courageous man dying of an incurable disease stood on the field at Yankee Stadium and told everyone he was the "luckiest man on the face of this earth." Published July 3, 2014
LOVERRO: Nationals Park’s new reality series: ‘The Lineup’
Lineup cards are a baseball manager's game plan, except it is tacked up there for all the world to see, typically 3½ hours before the game is even played. It's the twin document, along with the box score, of the daily tradition of baseball, year in and year out. Opposing managers might want to be careful handling the Nationals lineup cards — they could be bloody. Published July 1, 2014
LOVERRO: As Bryce Harper returns, Nats have new golden boy in Anthony Rendon
Rendon has become the new darling among Nationals fans, winning them over with his slick third base glove, his clutch game-winning bat, and his generally happy demeanor — seemingly taking life as it comes. Published June 29, 2014
LOVERRO: Ryan Zimmerman’s example could lead Nats to big things
Zimmerman's willingness to pick up a glove and play wherever the Nationals need him is his defining moment as a leader on this team — and perhaps the rallying cry for Washington this summer. Published June 26, 2014
LOVERRO: American soccer hysteria just hipster hype
Soccer will grow in America. And someday, it will have a significant place at the sports consumer table in this country. But it won't be because of the hipsters who are watching now, who will go back to their "True Blood" and "Top Chef" viewing parties when the World Cup is over. Published June 24, 2014
LOVERRO: Tiger Woods a sympathetic figure after surgery?
Maybe opening up his back — and age (he's 38) — will finally make Tiger Woods human. First, maybe Tiger needs to recognize he is human. He is making a superhuman recovery, coming back to play just four months after they cut into his back. Published June 22, 2014
LOVERRO: Hypocrites will get their way on Redskins’ name
That's the offensive part in the Washington Redskins name debate — the hypocrisy of people perfuming their righteous vanities who couldn't have cared less about the plight of Native Americans before they were told they should be offended by this name, and who will go back to caring even less if and when the name is changed. Published June 19, 2014
LOVERRO: Tony Gwynn was robbed, and so were we
He was robbed of every day he would have lived when he might have met someone for the first time, and made it a special moment for them, because that's what he did. He was an All-Star contributor to the human race. Published June 17, 2014
LOVERRO: Don’t underestimate importance of Nationals’ community connections
You can't quantify the emotional value to a community to have an institution like the Washington Nationals, from April through September and during the winter, reach out — connections that didn't exist before baseball came to Washington in 2005. Published June 15, 2014
LOVERRO: As Baseball Hall celebrates 75th anniversary, people will come
The predictions of the demise of the Baseball Hall of Fame because of the absence of some of the biggest stars of the steroid era have been greatly exaggerated. That's about the change dramatically next month, and for years to come. Published June 12, 2014
LOVERRO: Nats much better off with Michael Morse gone
There are still Nationals fans that believe that Morse is the missing piece of Washington's championship puzzle — which is puzzling, considering his dismal performance last season. Morse should be celebrated by Nationals fans — for what he brought to Washington with his departure. Published June 10, 2014
LOVERRO: @RGIII and the @Redskins, influencing people one #hashtag at a time
Robert Griffin III is connecting with and building an army of loyal, devoted followers who he reaches out to daily through social media. They do love SuperBob, because they believe he loves them. He cares about them. It's a beautiful thing. It's also brilliant. Published June 8, 2014
