Thom Loverro
Columns by Thom Loverro
LOVERRO: Ernie Banks a greater ‘champion’ than Bill Belichick
Banks was one of the greatest players of the 20th century, the greatest power hitting shortstop ever, and we remember him for his decency. That man died Friday night. And we're supposed to care about someone like Belichick today? Published January 25, 2015
LOVERRO: Personality wipes out transgression in NFL
Ray Rice, you had a rough 2014. You knocked your future wife out on a New Jersey casino elevator and the whole world (save for NFL commissioner Roger Goodell) saw it. You don't know what future, if any, you have in the NFL. Published January 22, 2015
LOVERRO: Scott Boras becoming pope of D.C. baseball
Pope Francis will reportedly visit Washington, D.C. on his trip to the United States this fall. Maybe he will get a chance to have an audience with Scott Boras. Published January 20, 2015
LOVERRO: Keeping Tyler Clippard a luxury the Nationals couldn’t afford
The Lerner family is going to keep this team's payroll in the $140 million neighborhood — an upscale, if not luxury, neighborhood. In order to do that, you can't be paying the setup reliever $9 million. Published January 18, 2015
LOVERRO: Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather fight would be end of an era
The only thing bigger than a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight being close is an actual Mayweather-Pacquiao fight. When that happens — if that happens — you can break down the ring and put it away in a storage unit. Published January 15, 2015
LOVERRO: Joe Jacoby still waiting for his Hall of Fame selection
Jacoby has been a semifinalist three consecutive years and five times overall. But he can’t make the finalist cut. Who he failed to block during his career to fall short of a Hall of Famer, I don’t know. Published January 13, 2015
LOVERRO: Want a glimpse of the Redskins’ future? Look at the Seahawks’ present
Why would Redskins fans get any satisfaction over a Seahawks win? Because the man who supposedly helped build the roster of the defending Super Bowl champions was introduced Friday as the alleged new architect of Washington Redskins personnel. Published January 11, 2015
LOVERRO: The Redskins have a new savior. How’d the last few work out?
You recognize that feeling in your gut. It’s very familiar. It was there five years ago, and six years before that, and two years before that. It’s called hope. You must hate hope by now. Published January 8, 2015
Hall of Fame voters got it right by electing Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and others
Somehow, despite headlines like "Baseball's broken Hall of Fame process" and "Hall of Fame PED hypocrisy must end," baseball writers managed to elect four qualified Hall of Fame candidates. Published January 6, 2015
LOVERRO: Bruce Allen’s platitudes would have disgusted his father
Allen's father, former Redskins coach George Allen, knew how hollow future promise was after a long history of failure past. Then again, the father would have never given his team a pat on the back for winning two games and trying. Published January 4, 2015
LOVERRO: Winter Classic victory may be start of something special in D.C. in 2015
The sun rose on the first day of 2015 — and it was a bright sun, a signal of a new dawn in Washington sports thanks to the Washington Capitals, delivering a message that redefined hope in this town. Published January 1, 2015
LOVERRO: Former Winter Classic hero Eric Fehr ready for Capitals’ outdoor showcase
The last time Fehr played in the Winter Classic, he made the most of the opportunity, scoring two goals to lead the Capitals to a 3-1 win over the rival Penguins in Pittsburgh in 2011 before a standing-room only crowd of more than 68,000 frenzied fans. Published December 30, 2014
LOVERRO: Years later, still no debate over steroid users in Hall of Fame
For some reason, it is difficult for some voters to face the tough decisions of judging admitted or proven cheaters who used performance-enhancing substances to make their Hall of Fame case. Published December 25, 2014
LOVERRO: Improved Cuban relations could foster a beautiful baseball relationship
The news last week that President Obama was moving to restore relations with Cuba and lift the embargo against the country brought back recollections of that historic 1999 Orioles trip to Havana to play the Cuban National team. Published December 23, 2014
LOVERRO: In victory over Eagles, Robert Griffin III should have learned lesson
Griffin didn't win the game for the Redskins, who defeated Philadelphia, 27-24, on Saturday. But he didn't lose it, either. He was simply the quarterback who did just enough to win and not too much to lose. Published December 21, 2014
LOVERRO: By joining three-team trade, Mike Rizzo shoring up Nationals’ future
Your three-time Silver Slugger award-winning shortstop and your ace no-hitter pitcher are one season away from saying goodbye. What do we do? Panic? Pay them? On Wednesday, Mike Rizzo's message was to relax. Published December 18, 2014
LOVERRO: It’s back to the beginning with Robert Griffin III, Kirk Cousins
It's Batman and Robin, Robert Griffin III and Kirk Cousins, back together again — the two quarterbacks who have been thrown together since they were drafted in 2012. Now? The Redskins may not have one NFL quarterback between them. Published December 16, 2014
LOVERRO: Bryce Harper’s absence says a lot about his future with Nationals
If you needed any more proof that once the clock strikes midnight for Bryce Harper to become a free agent, he will leave the Washington Nationals, you got it Saturday when the young star refused to attend the team's winter NatsFest. Published December 14, 2014
LOVERRO: John Wall has matured into a man before our eyes in Washington
Gone is the 20-year-old kid who was introduced after the draft in the ill-fated orchestrated Ted Leonsis event at the Verizon Center — a terrible statement for a franchise that had just been destroyed by indulging another superstar player. Published December 11, 2014
LOVERRO: Relationships at Redskins Park will make for a very messy divorce
You think Mike and Kyle Shanahan was nepotism? The family tree at Redskins Park is a complicated one — the reason why firing anybody won't be simple. Published December 9, 2014
