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Thom Loverro

Thom Loverro

tloverro@washingtontimes.com

Thom Loverro has been a professional journalist since 1977, working for a number of newspapers, including eight years as a news editor and reporter for The Baltimore Sun, where he covered government, politics, and crime. He moved into sports writing when he joined The Washington Times in 1992. He moved to The Washington Examiner as a sports columnist in 2009 and returned to The Washington Times in 2013, where he is currently the lead sports columnist.

Columns by Thom Loverro

Hall of Fame inductee Chris Hanburger poses with his bust during the 2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Canton, Ohio on August 6, 2011. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) **FILE**

This NFL draft era is missing personal, behind-the-scenes stories

The draft has changed dramatically over the years, from a conference call exercise to an elaborate staged event, complete with hugs from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. What is often missing are the personal behind-the-scenes stories that led to the draft picks that became stars of their new teams.

April 26, 2021
FILE - In this Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020, file photo, Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder listens to head coach Ron Rivera during a news conference at the team's NFL football training facility, in Ashburn, Va. A person familiar with the situation tells The Associated Press the NFL has taken over the independent investigation into workplace conduct within the Washington Football Team. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

Dan Snyder, Bruce Allen divorce gets messy

What happened to those days of partying on the yacht, flying around the world, and the intimate games of Putt-Putt in the office? What happened to the Bruce Allen-Dan Snyder love?

April 18, 2021
FILE - In this Oct. 27, 2019, file photo, former professional boxer Evander Holyfield paces the sidelines as he watches his son, Georgia running back Elijah Holyfield, play in an NCAA college football game against Florida, in Jacksonville, Fla. Elijah Holyfield says it wasn't an easy decision to leave Georgia after his junior season. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)

Tyson, Holyfield and the dying gasp of a once-great sport

First Mike Tyson climbed back in the ring, now former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield will, at the age of 58, stage an eight-round "exhibition" against 47-year-old Kevin McBride. And that, folks, tells you how far boxing has fallen.

April 12, 2021
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp listens to a question during a news conference at the State Capitol on Saturday, April 3, 2021, in Atlanta, about Major League Baseball's decision to pull the 2021 All-Star Game from Atlanta over the league's objection to a new Georgia voting law. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Rob Manfred puts baseball in middle of political fight

This notion that baseball's decision to pull the game out of Atlanta is some sort of "cancel culture" travesty is absurd. The game was awarded to Atlanta through politics and it was taken away because of politics -- the controversial new Georgia voting law.

April 5, 2021
Washington Nationals' Josh Harrison (5) bumps fists with first base coach Randy Knorr after hitting a single during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Houston Astros, Wednesday, March 24, 2021, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Randy Knorr is Nationals institutional memory

There have been a lot of names and faces that have passed through Washington Nationals' history since the franchise brought baseball back to Washington in 2005. Randy Knorr has seen most, if not all, of them.

March 29, 2021
In this Nov. 3, 2019 file photo, Washington owner Daniel Snyder is shown before an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus, File) **FILE**

Dan Snyder era set to go on and on and on

For the NFL, pulling the plug on the Dan Snyder era in Washington could be chalked up to doing the right thing. On basic decency. How about we just call it good business? Take your pick. Instead, the owners seem content to keep Snyder and continue counting their money.

March 24, 2021
Philadelphia Eagle Cyril Pinder (22) is caught between two Washington Redskins, Jon Jaqua, bottom, and Russell Tillman, during first quarter action at RFK Stadium, Dec. 13, 1970, Washington, D.C. (AP Photo/John Duricka) **FILE**

Rusty Tillman learned from George Allen

Russell Arthur "Rusty" Tillman, who passed away last week at the age of 75, was an NFL special teams legend from coast to coast, from the state of Washington to the District.

March 21, 2021
Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) throws against the Denver Broncos during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020, in Denver. The Broncos won 20-13. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Ryan Fitzpatrick gets another shot

So now we know: Fitzpatrick, Mr. Plan D, is the guy. Fitzpatrick -- all 38, soon to be 39 years, of him -- will be fun, no doubt. But he'll be taking the field this season opposite Russell Wilson, Patrick Mahomes, Dak Prescott and Aaron Rodgers. Those guys? Not Plan D guys.

March 16, 2021
FILE - In this April 1987 file photo, "Marvelous" Marvin Hagler, left, moves in on "Sugar" Ray Leonard during the third round of a boxing bout in Las Vegas. Leonard won with a split decision. Hagler, the middleweight boxing great whose title reign and career ended with the loss to Leonard in 1987, died Saturday, March 13, 2021. He was 66. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon, File)

Marvin Hagler legacy of greatness

It seemed like Hagler eventually got past the bitterness of what happened in the 20-foot ring in Las Vegas the night of April 6, 1987, when he stood within punching distance of beating Leonard but came up short.

March 14, 2021
FILE - In this Nov. 2, 2019, file photo, Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez celebrates with fans during a parade to celebrate the team's World Series baseball championship over the Houston Astros in Washington. Martinez says the World Series champs will raise their banner and present their rings at their stadium with fans in attendance -- no matter how or when or if the 2020 season starts. Like his general manager, Mike Rizzo, Martinez is optimistic there will be a major league season this year and has been mapping out what a second spring training camp might look like. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

Dave Martinez and the Nationals slow starts

Martinez knows the Nationals have had a pattern of slow starts in his first three seasons in Washington. He thinks this team has the pieces to lead from the front.

February 14, 2021