Thom Loverro
Columns by Thom Loverro
LOVERRO: Ingredients in Dr. Rizzo’s miracle cure include talent, youth and a Padres phone call
Losing a generational ballplayer like Juan Soto can be gut-wrenching, something that likely left a lot of Washington Nationals fans feeling ill. Published July 2, 2024
LOVERRO: When you’re as low as the Wizards, it all looks like upside
The Wizards selected a French player with the second pick overall in the NBA draft Wednesday night, one of three French players to go in the top 10 in the first round. All the cool kids are doing it. Published June 27, 2024
LOVERRO: Daniels may be an ace, but Commanders don’t have a full house yet
These are some pretty impressive quotes from NFL veterans about a rookie Washington quarterback who has yet to play one down in an NFL game. Published June 25, 2024
LOVERRO: Willie Mays, last of a generation that towered above baseball
Willie Mays was the last of the finest, and perhaps the greatest, of the quartet of players who made up the royal court of baseball for more than 50 years. Published June 19, 2024
LOVERRO: Celtics’ success with Horford, Porzingis points up how Wizards fell short
The story of Al Horford and the Washington Wizards has been told before. But since this franchise continued to make one mistake after another following this failure, it's important to tell it again and again, until the local NBA team finally does something right -- you know, like the Boston Celtics have done 18 times to build championship rosters. Published June 18, 2024
LOVERRO: Bethesda native Sternburg rightfully among boxing’s greats
I was there for the early days of the brilliance of Fred Sternburg, when he was publicizing club fights in places like the Pikesville Armory, where he searched far and wide for a phone line for me to send my column about the fight he had convinced me to cover. He found one in the guard shack outside. Published June 5, 2024
LOVERRO: Landover surprisingly back in running for Commanders stadium, thanks to politicking
A U.S. senator has emerged as the major roadblock to the District's efforts to gain control of the federal land that RFK Stadium sits on for a new home for the Washington Commanders, but not the one that has gotten all the attention. Published June 2, 2024
LOVERRO: Washington baseball spotlighted in MLB’s overdue inclusion of Negro League records
A few years back, a group of elderly baseball players, all members of the Negro League Baseball Players Association, were trying to generate some income for their colleagues and, while they were at it, perhaps a little sliver of justice. Published May 30, 2024
LOVERRO: The long, confounding implosion of Victor Robles
This week, the Nationals made 27-year-old Victor Robles available, designating him for assignment after more than 10 years in the organization and eight years since he made his major league debut in 2017. Published May 29, 2024
LOVERRO: Walton leaves behind incomparable basketball, broadcasting legacy
Former Maryland basketball star Tom McMillen was surprised to hear that Bill Walton had died at the age of 71 from cancer. "I didn't know he was that sick," McMillen said. "I would have reached out to him. He was a great human being." Published May 28, 2024
LOVERRO: Obscure 1955 drama featured John Wayne in a ‘Field of Dreams’-esque slice of Americana
It's John Wayne's 117th birthday on Sunday, the day before Memorial Day. On the screen, he was often the soldier who fought America's enemies. In real life, he never served in the military and actually filed for a draft deferment in World War II, a source of controversy at the time. Published May 23, 2024
LOVERRO: Leonsis still in the hunt for the Nationals
Transparent Ted Leonsis hasn't let the embarrassment of his Virginia stadium collapse keep him down. Published May 16, 2024
LOVERRO: Mambo No. 5 rookie has Commanders, Way dancing to his tune
I'll bet if you told new Washington Commanders coach Dan Quinn what the reaction was going to be when he wore a Commanders T-shirt to a rookie minicamp last week, you probably could have knocked him over with a feather. Two feathers, actually. Published May 14, 2024
LOVERRO: Orioles, Nationals rivalry more about billionaires, bottom lines than ballparks, players
There's been a rivalry between the Orioles and Nationals, all right, but not on the field. It's been in the courtroom in the bitter, drawn-out, and well-documented battle between the Orioles and the Nationals over shared television revenue. There is a feeling, though, that the legal rivalry, at least, may soon be at an end. Published May 8, 2024
LOVERRO: Is Daniels the Commanders’ new savior? Or more of the same? Only time will tell
Be excited. Be optimistic. But don't be convinced just yet. Published April 26, 2024
LOVERRO: Washington has had its share of springtime saviors. Remember Heath Shuler?
Remember Heath Shuler. That advice could help reduce the fever Commanders fans are feeling as the seconds tick down to Thursday night's NFL draft and Washington's pick at No. 2. This franchise, after all, has been here before and come away with precious little to show for it. Published April 23, 2024
LOVERRO: Kendrick, who led Nationals in 2019, still knows what counts
The Washington Nationals celebrated the five-year anniversary of their 2019 World Series championship this weekend at Nationals Park, and there was as much attention paid to who wasn't there as there was to the 12 players from that championship squad who were on hand for the festivities. Published April 21, 2024
LOVERRO: Race to land Commanders down to Maryland, District. And things are about to get real …
Commanders' owners would prefer to be back in the city on the RFK site, according to sources, and it remains the sentimental favorite among the fan base. Published April 18, 2024
LOVERRO: Wizards, who can’t win for trying, try losing and calling it a win
The Washington Wizards set out to lose this season, and that they accomplished, finishing with a 15-67 record, second only to the 14-68 Detroit Pistons for the worst record in the NBA. Published April 16, 2024
LOVERRO: Strasburg’s arm should have alerted baseball years ago to pitching crisis
Days after Washington Nationals pitching great Stephen Strasburg, who left body parts on the mound, announced his retirement after 13 seasons of celebration and carnage, now the alarm is being sounded for a pitching injury crisis? Is this some warped version of a tribute to Strasburg? Published April 10, 2024
