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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

In this Wednesday, May 8, 2019, file photo, Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant, left, walks away from referee Ken Mauer during the first half of Game 5 of the team's second-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Houston Rockets in Oakland, Calif. Durant is yet to progress to on-court work in his recovery from a strained right calf and won't be ready to return for Golden State in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on May 30. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File) **FILE**

Kevin Durant legacy on line in Finals

Yes, Kevin Durant has two finals' MVP trophies to go along with his two rings, but there are still many who question Durant's relevance with the Warriors.

May 28, 2019
Former Washington Redskins coach and NASCAR racing team owner Joe Gibbs is now immortalized as a leader in two major halls of fame. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Joe Gibbs’ leadership legacy unmatched in pro sports

The legend of Coach Gibbs was perhaps solidified at a level unprecedented by anyone else who ever called himself coach when the news came out last week that Gibbs was elected to NASCAR Hall of Fame last week.

May 26, 2019
Washington Redskins running back Adrian Peterson leaves the field after an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. The Titans won 25-16.(AP Photo/Mark Zaleski) ** FILE **

Redskins hold two days of workouts with many leaders, stars absent

A team that has done nothing and gone nowhere for two decades, a team that supposedly likes its head coach, who is in the final year of his contract, a team with a brand new rookie quarterback who has been crowned after just a few snaps in voluntary workouts and a new veteran quarterback who came over in a trade -- should show up for all workouts from Day 1, voluntary or not.

May 21, 2019
Duke's Zion Williamson arrives for the NBA basketball draft lottery Tuesday, May 14, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nuccio DiNuzzo)

Maravich era was last time N.O. basketball mattered

When I was in New Orleans in late January for a few days, I was struck by the absence of any inkling that the city had an NBA franchise. Nothing -- no hats, no T-shirts, no billboards, nothing. It was as if the New Orleans Pelicans didn't exist.

May 16, 2019
Carolina Hurricanes right wing Justin Williams (14) shakes hands with Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, after Game 7 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series, Wednesday, April 24, 2019, in Washington. The Hurricanes won 4-3 in double overtime. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Barry Trotz moves on as the Capitals head home

Fans are entitled to their feelings of disappointment, frustration -- anger, even -- in the wake of this unexpectedly early end to the season. What's better than one Stanley Cup parade? Two parades.

April 25, 2019
Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby (70) guards the net against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period of Game 4 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series, in Raleigh, N.C, Thursday, April 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)

Championship mettle now part of Capitals’ DNA

The Capitals -- one game away from moving on to the second round of the NHL playoffs and a showdown against former coach Barry Trotz's New York Islanders -- are showing what NBC Sports hockey analyst Eddie Olczyk referred to as their "Stanley Cup pedigree."

April 21, 2019
Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin, right, of Russia, punches Carolina Hurricanes' Andrei Svechnikov, also of Russia, during the first period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Monday, April 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

Todd Reirden and his best-laid plans hit in the mouth

The Capitals were punched in the mouth Monday night by the Hurricanes in a 5-0 loss to cut Washington's lead in the series to 2-1. The beatdown was nearly as bad as Alex Ovechkin's brutal beating of Carolina's Andrei Svechnikov.

April 16, 2019
Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom (19), of Sweden, celebrates his goal against Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Petr Mrazek (34), of the Czech Republic, defenseman Brett Pesce (22) and others during the first period of Game 1 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series Thursday, April 11, 2019, in Washington. The Capitals won 4-2. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

For Nicklas Backstrom and Capitals, the hits keep coming

For Game 1 Thursday night against the Carolin Hurricanes -- the first playoff defense of Washington's Stanley Cup championship -- fans were treated to a pregame highlight reel reliving all the great memories of last season's victories and celebrations. Then the Capitals did the video one better.

April 12, 2019
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen (3) talks with Seattle Seahawks quarterback Brett Hundley (7) after an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. The Seahawks won 20-17. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Josh Rosen has strong arm, strong opinions

Josh Rosen was taken at No. 10 a year ago, but the Arizona Cardinals quarterback could still be one of the biggest stories at this month's upcoming NFL draft.

April 11, 2019
Washington Capitals Alex Ovechkin, left, and Braden Holtby, left, skate during a team practice in Arlington, Va., Monday, April 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Braden Holtby and Capitals: No ghosts

As the Washington Capitals prepare for the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, with Game 1 Thursday night against the Carolina Hurricanes, the coffee should taste a little sweeter than normal this time of year in the Capitals locker room.

April 9, 2019