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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

Washington Nationals pitcher and World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg, celebrates the World Series baseball championship during a rally following a parade to celebrate the team's World Series baseball championship over Houston Astros, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019, in Washington. Nationals right fielder Gerardo Parra is right and pitcher Anibal Sanchez, left. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) **FILE**

Anthony Rendon likely exit damper on Strasburg return

If we are to take Nationals owner Mark Lerner at his word, the family has no plans to sign both Strasburg and Rendon, stars of on this year's World Series championship team who became free agents after the last out of Game 7 in Houston.

December 10, 2019
Washington Nationals' Anthony Rendon loses his helmet as he strikes out during the fourth inning of Game 7 of the baseball World Series against the Houston Astros Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Mark Lerner can afford both Rendon and Strasburg

It might put the team slightly over the luxury tax and result in a penalty, but that penalty would be insignificant, compared to the revenue that would be generated if they keep this party going.

December 8, 2019
Washington Redskins head coach Bill Callahan looks on during the second half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco)

Bill Callahan in mix with a win in Green Bay

How many times does a team that plays in the NFL face a game where a win could have a debilitating effect on the team for years to come? Unless, of course, you actually believe that Bill Callahan being the Redskins' head coach for this year and beyond would be a positive development.

December 5, 2019
In this Sept. 29, 2019, file photo, a fan wears a shark hat as Washington Nationals' Gerardo Parra comes up to bat in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Indians at Nationals Park in Washington. Creators of the viral video “Baby Shark,” whose “doo doo doo” song was played at the World Series in October, are developing a version in Navajo. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

Before business of winter, a reminder of October glory

"World Series 2019: Nationals vs. Astros" was a fine piece of work, a chance for fans to relive those magic moments again, with perhaps even more perspective to fully appreciate the historical accomplishment of this baseball team and its march to the title that ended with a dramatic Game 7 victory in Houston.

December 3, 2019
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson walks the sidelines during the second half of NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)

Lamar Jackson brings hope to Baltimore

Quarterback Lamar Jackson has energized Ravens fans and a city beleaguered by bad news and bad times. He has quickly reached icon status in the city, leading the Ravens to a 9-2 record and perhaps a path to the franchise's third Super Bowl.

November 28, 2019
FILE - In this Oct. 12, 1958, file photo, Cleveland Browns fullback Jim Brown runs against the Chicago Cardinals for a touchdown in the first half of a football game in Cleveland. Brown scored three touchdowns in Cleveland's 35-28 win. Brown led the NFL in rushing eight times and was league MVP three times; finished with more than 12,000 yards rushing and 106 rushing touchdowns; and averaged 5.2 yards per carry. And he did all this in only nine seasons before retiring at age 30 to become an actor. (AP Photo/File)

LOVERRO: Remembering all-timers underscores NFL changes

Last week the NFL Network kicked off a series of programs featuring what a panel of experts have determined are the 100 greatest players and 10 greatest coaches in NFL history. It's worth the watch, because you likely will see very few that qualify for that list on the field today. Heck, you won't find many that have stepped on the football field this century.

November 26, 2019
Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred speaks to the media at the owners meeting in Arlington, Texas, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Rob Manfred, Major League Baseball face minefield of problems

The commissioner of Major League Baseball, the former right-hand man to predecessor Bud Selig, is facing a trifecta of major challenges in the coming months -- the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal, minor league contraction and labor unrest for the first time in nearly 20 years.

November 21, 2019
FILE - In this Nov. 3, 2019, file photo, Washington Redskins head coach Bill Callahan, left, talks with quarterback Dwayne Haskins before an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y. The Redskins at the bye week of a lost season are a team without a definitive answer at quarterback, answers to questions on offense and defense and a visible organizational plan for the future. Callahan has repeatedly set the expectation at winning the next game and said he’s receiving no direction from the front office on how to develop young players for the next few years. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus, File)

Dwayne Haskins gets chance to prove Snyder was right

No matter how wrong it may have been for Dan Snyder to overrule his football people and force the selection of Dwayne Haskins with the 15th pick, once the damage was done, they needed to see if the quarterback they invested so much in could play.

November 12, 2019
Despite not having enough at bats to qualify for the batting title, Nationals infielder Howie Kendrick led the league in hitting with a .344 average. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Howie Kendrick was most valuable player for the Nationals

You could make the case that Kendrick, one of the Nationals postseason stars and the National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player, was an MVP candidate for the regular season as well, if we are to accept the meaning of the word "valuable." No Washington National may have been more valuable to this team this season than Kendrick.

November 10, 2019
Washington Redskins offensive tackle Trent Williams (71) takes the field for warms up before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) ** FILE **

Redskins missed lesson in Nationals’ handling of Stephen Strasburg

There is no shortage of material to contrast the way the Nationals and the Redskins do business -- in case you missed the World Series trophy the Nationals held high during their celebration parade on Saturday -- but nothing illustrates the difference between the two organizations more starkly than the treatment of their two star players, Strasburg and Williams.

November 5, 2019
In this Oct. 30, 1974 file photo, referee Zack Clayton, right, steps in after challenger Muhammad Ali looks on after knocking down defending heavyweight champion George Foreman in the eighth round of their championship bout in Kinshasa, Zaire. Ali regained the world heavyweight crown by knockout in the eighth round of the fight dubbed "Rumble in the Jungle." (AP Photo/File) **FILE**

Muhammad Ali - George Foreman ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ still as great as it gets 45 years later

So boys and girls, gather around, and let me tell you a story about one of the greatest sporting events of the 20th century that took place in the heart of Africa -- a battle between the greatest sports icon of the century and a fearsome opponent who would later become the greatest television pitch man of all time. That's a lot of great, I know. But the "Rumble in the Jungle" 45 years ago Wednesday -- Oct. 30, 1974 -- was as great as it gets. There has not been another like it since.

October 29, 2019