Thom Loverro
Columns by Thom Loverro
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
LOVERRO: Strasburg earned place in hearts of fans, teammates
Everyone who was in soldout Nationals Park the day Stephen Strasburg made his MLB debut likely remembers. The hype, for once, was real. Strasburg, Washington's No. 1 draft pick in 2009, struck out 14 Pittsburgh Pirates in seven innings on his way to a 5-2 win. Published April 7, 2024
LOVERRO: Larry Lucchino’s mission to save baseball began in Baltimore
Lucchino passed away this week at 78 with a resume unrivaled in sports, one that makes you wonder why they will have waited until he died before enshrining him in the Baseball Hall of Fame. He will have a plaque there soon, maybe before the one he should have had years ago in the Orioles Hall of Fame. Published April 4, 2024
LOVERRO: Qatar cash undercuts Leonsis, Monumental message of LGBTQ inclusivity
Here is how Pride Night is celebrated in Qatar, Monumental Sports' business partner: Any public display of LGBTQ support would likely result in arrest and hard jail time that would include interrogations to reveal to the police anything you may know about other LGBTQ people in hiding in the Islamic country. Published April 3, 2024
LOVERRO: An opening day with something new in the air: Hope
It was the home opener Monday at Nationals Park against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and that's not something any Washington baseball fan should ever take for granted. Published April 1, 2024
LOVERRO: Keeping Leonsis and his teams may cost District any chance of landing Commanders
Ted Leonsis' lack of preparation for the political fight for his proposed arena project in Virginia, a politically volatile state, was stunning. Published March 28, 2024
LOVERRO: Commanders may need to weigh ‘mom factor’ on draft day
Washington Commanders coach Dan Quinn told the NFL Network last week that it would "be fair to envision we'd be taking a quarterback" with the second pick in the draft next month. Published March 27, 2024
LOVERRO: Angelos, the Orioles and one drama after another (after another)
The relationship between Peter Angelos, who died Saturday at the age of 94, and the press would sour as the team fell into a dysfunctional abyss for 14 straight losing seasons. But in those first years of ownership, Angelos loved bending the ears of the sportswriters who covered him and his team. Published March 25, 2024
