Thom Loverro
Columns by Thom Loverro
LOVERRO: Ravens got bullied, baited by the best in the business
What was the pregame drama all about? Was it to remind everyone that the Chiefs, who posted an 11-6 record this season and who were 4 1/2 point underdogs going into the game against the 13-4 Ravens, were the defending champs and recent two-time winners of the Super Bowl? Was it Kansas City's response to a perceived lack of respect? Published January 29, 2024
LOVERRO: Interesting event in Lions history spawned famous Plimpton book
The Detroit Lions don't have much of a championship history. But they have one particular unique chapter in franchise history that took place 60 years ago during the 1963 NFL season, when a Sports Illustrated writer reported to Lions training camp to play quarterback -- and wrote a memorable book about the experience. Published January 25, 2024
LOVERRO: Without Bonds, Clemens, Hall of Fame lobbying for steroid cheaters trickles away
The Baseball Hall of Fame voting isn't what it used to be. No torches, no pitchforks, no villagers storming the gates protesting the trampled rights of cheaters. Published January 24, 2024
LOVERRO: How about rebuilding Commanders in the mold of the Ravens?
Washington Commanders fans should feel great about Saturday's 34-10 playoff win over the Houston Texans. After all, the Ravens are new owner Josh Harris' franchise role model, according to what was left of Sports Illustrated last month. Published January 21, 2024
LOVERRO: Favre, Rodgers added to a legacy created by the late, great Bart Starr
A word to the children at Fox Sports who will be contributing graphics and information about the Green Bay Packers to their divisional round playoff game Saturday night against the San Francisco 49ers -- two words, actually -- Bart Starr. Published January 18, 2024
LOVERRO: Goal is everyone on same page, asking same question: What’s best for franchise?
I wonder if chills of excitement -- excitement tinged, perhaps, with just a bit of fear -- went down Adam Peters' spine when he walked into the Washington Commanders headquarters in Ashburn for his introductory press conference Tuesday. Published January 17, 2024
LOVERRO: Adam Peters is a dose of credibility for Harris, Commanders
Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris appears to have hired a chief credibility officer -- Adam Peters, the assistant general manager of the San Francisco 49ers -- according to various reports. Published January 14, 2024
LOVERRO: NFL finds another way to stick its fingers in fans’ wallets
If you want to watch the Kansas City Chiefs and the Taylor Swiftettes face the Miami Dolphins on Saturday night, you'll have to buy a Peacock streaming subscription to watch. This one should go down in history as "The Greed Bowl," remembered for the avarice of NFL owners. Published January 11, 2024
LOVERRO: Culture counts, Ron, but winning matters too
If the culture has indeed been changed by Ron Rivera and his 26-40-1 four-year record here, you couldn't prove it by his Commanders players as they were heading out the door. Published January 8, 2024
LOVERRO: If NFL can’t clean up shoddy officiating, Congress — yes, Congress — needs to jump in
If the NFL is going continue to count its millions without accountability to the public, perhaps it's up to Congress to step in. Hearings on NFL officiating would force the league to invest more and improve the officiating -- to take it far more seriously than they do now. Published January 4, 2024
LOVERRO: Panthers owner’s unmanly drink toss better suited for ‘Real Housewives’ than NFL stadium
It was an expensive drink, but Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper, who is worth more than $20 billion, can afford the $300,000 fine. Throwing a drink at someone is the move of the rich and the petty. Published January 3, 2024
LOVERRO: Disastrous year with Commanders undercuts the ‘passed-over’ Bieniemy argument
Imagine Washington Commanders offensive coordinator and assistant head coach Eric Bieniemy walking into a job interview this off-season for a head coaching job. Let's say there's someone out there who still believes Bieniemy is some sort of offensive genius being held back by lack of opportunity. Published January 2, 2024
LOVERRO: Snyder’s shenanigans pale in comparison to DeBartolo’s time with 49ers
A federal prosecutor said Nicky Scarfo was a "remorseless and profoundly evil man" who became one of the most powerful mobsters in the country. This was who Eddie DeBartolo Jr. owed money to, according to a new book. Published December 28, 2023
LOVERRO: Life behind the mic put Washington announcer Brotman front and center
The man with a ringside seat for much of the last century of Washington history will turn 96 on Saturday. Published December 27, 2023
LOVERRO: Wrong from the start
So where did Ron Rivera go wrong? You could make the case that it was the minute he accepted a phone call from Washington owner Dan Snyder. Published December 26, 2023
LOVERRO: Relive the good times of Washington Redskins football with ‘George Allen’ book
"George Allen: A football life," by author and historian Mike Richman, captures the life and accomplishments of one of the most successful NFL coaches of all time who brought a new joy to Washington when he took over as head coach in 1971. Published December 21, 2023
LOVERRO: Gleeful dumping of the District not best look for Leonsis
At some point in the last week, I expected Ted Leonsis to apologize. Published December 19, 2023
LOVERRO: After lost opportunities, Commanders’ season reduced to bad football and coaching
Now it is just down to the dwindling days of bad football and bad coaching, with the countdown until the season ends on Jan. 7 and Ron Rivera, Eric Bieniemy and the rest of staff that has directed this team to a 4-10 record are gone on Jan. 8. Published December 18, 2023
LOVERRO: Nationals’ Rizzo joins DiMaggio, Marciano, Lombardi in Italian-American Sports Hall of Fame
Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo grew up in Chicago hearing stories from his father, the legendary scout Phil Rizzo, about Italian sports icons like Joe DiMaggio and Rocky Marciano. Now the younger Rizzo will take his place alongside DiMaggio, Marciano and other greats from his ethnic heritage when he is inducted Friday night into the Italian-American Sports Hall of Fame in his Chicago hometown. Published December 14, 2023
LOVERRO: Capitals-Wizards move hands Commanders big leverage in negotiations on a return to District
When Josh Harris heard the news that Transparent Ted Leonsis was going to leave the District and move his basketball and hockey team to Northern Virginia, do you think he popped champagne in his Miami Beach offices to celebrate? Published December 13, 2023
