Skip to content
TRENDING:
Donald Trump
Author profile
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 Wizards point guard John Wall, center, with Wizards majority owner Ted Leonsis, left, and president Ernie Grunfeld arrive for a news conference to announce NBA basketball star John Wall's contract extension, Friday, Aug. 4, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) **FILE**

Wizards’ blame belongs to owner

Leonsis has betrayed a Wizards fan base that had been victimized over and over again for decades. You think the Redskins' fan base is damaged? Flesh wounds compared to what has been inflicted on fans of Washington's NBA franchise for nearly 40 years.

November 22, 2018
In this photo taken Aug. 19, 2014, Washington Redskins offensive coordinator Sean McVay, right, talks on the sidelines with his three quarterbacks, from left, Kirk Cousin (8), Robert Griffin III and Colt McCoy (16) during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Cleveland Browns in Landover, Md. It's always something with the Washington Redskins quarterbacks: Starter Kirk Cousins has interception problems, No. 2 Colt McCoy is apparently hurt, and No. 3 Robert Griffin III , well, who knows where things stand with him? (AP Photo/Richard Lipski, File)

Colt McCoy, Gruden’s guy, gets his shot

More than three years ago, Colt McCoy came to Redskins Park for practice and was stunned to learn that Kirk Cousins -- not Robert Griffin III -- would be the starting quarterback going into the 2015 season.

November 20, 2018
Washington Redskins quarterback Colt McCoy (12) scrambles with the ball during the second half of an NFL football game between the Houston Texans and the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018 in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Colt McCoy gets a chance to rewrite his own story

If there was going to be a storybook moment for Washington Redskins backup quarterback Colt McCoy in 2018, it wasn't going to be Sunday against the Houston Texans at FedEx Field.

November 18, 2018
After years of suffering, a damaged fan base is staying away from FedEx Field this season despite the Redskins' 6-3 record and their hold on first place in the NFC East. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Redskins fans who stay home prefer style over substance

Among many good reasons for lack of support from a damaged and fatigued fan base, one that emerged that has startled some is that this 6-3 team is pretty boring, and that some fans would rather watch a more exciting offensive team lose than a comatose offensive team win.

November 15, 2018
Washington Nationals relief pitcher Bill Bray (21) pitches as the Washington Nationals play the Atlanta Braves during spring training at Champion Stadium, Kissimmee, Fla., Tuesday, February 26, 2013. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

Bill Bray, now lawyer, still in the MLB game

Bill Bray was at an amateur baseball tournament in Florida last month when he got the news -- he had passed the bar exam. Bill Bray, former major league relief pitcher for the Washington Nationals and Cincinnati Reds, was now Bill Bray, lawyer.

November 11, 2018
Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was absent from the team's NatsFest on Saturday at a time when he and his agent Scott Boras (left) have a grievance against the team regarding a provision that was not included in Harper's contract in 2010. That provision would make him eligible for arbitration early. (Associated Press) **FILE**

Nationals likely to be left out of Bryce ‘Harper’s bazaar’

Whatever the Nationals' offer was, no one expected Harper and Boras to take it. They are determined to bring Harper to free agency, in what Boras, talking to reporters earlier this week at the baseball general managers meeting in Carlsbad, California, called, "Harper's Bazaar."

November 8, 2018
Washington Redskins quarterback Alex Smith faces a Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday with a patch-work offensive line and watered-down offensive weapons. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Alex Smith’s worth to Redskins to be revealed in Tampa

After the Washington Redskins acquired Alex Smith, coach Jay Gruden testified in favor of the trade --enthusiastically, glowingly, effusively. In fact, he said the team was better off with Smith at quarterback than they had been with the previous quarterback, without mentioning his name. Well, we'll find out Sunday in Tampa against the Buccaneers.

November 6, 2018
University of Maryland president Wallace Loh, left, speaks at a news conference in front of James Brady, chairman of the University System of Maryland Board of Regents, following the board's recommendation that football head coach DJ Durkin retain his job, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, in Baltimore. Durkin has been on paid administrative leave since August, following the death of a player who collapsed during practice and an investigation of bullying by the Maryland coaching staff. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) **FILE**

Maryland’s bullies finally being held accountable for their culpability

Fortunately, as much as the gangsters would love to run their fiefdom like strong-armed dictators, they are accountable to the rest of the human race and the reactions nationwide to the horror of trying to retain head football coach DJ Durkin -- the head man with the responsibility to protect the young athletes parents placed in his care, an obligation he miserably failed to fulfill.

November 1, 2018
Washington Nationals' President Stan Kasten, right, and Vice President of Baseball Operations Mike Rizzo, speak during a news conference discussing the teams managerial situation, Monday, July 13, 2009, in Washington. Washington Nationals relieved Manny Acta as manager and named Jim Riggleman interim field manager. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) **FILE**

Red Sox, Dodgers connections helped facilitate return of baseball to D.C.

It was the Boston Red Sox who helped facilitate the return of baseball in Washington in 2005, and it was a key figure with the Los Angeles Dodgers who was instrumental in the ownership and development of the franchise in its early days following the relocation of the Montreal Expos to Washington.

October 25, 2018
Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden speaks with Washington Redskins quarterback Alex Smith (11) in the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Landover, Md. The Redskins defeated the Cowboys 20-17. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) ** FILE **

Redskins winning in spite of Jay Gruden not having fun with Alex Smith’s play

Jay Gruden should have a bounce in his step, a smile on his face and a song in his heart. He is the head coach of a winning team nearly halfway through the season. But there is this one problem -- he's winning without his favorite toy, the quarterback. In fact, he is winning in spite of his favorite toy.

October 23, 2018

What’s cooking at FedEx is an old Redskins recipe

A running back, a good defense, solid special teams and winning the turnover battle -- that recipe for success in your grandfather's NFL is today's blue-plate special for the Redskins.

October 21, 2018
Redskins quarterback Alex Smith staked Washington to a two-touchdown lead in the first quarter and finished 21-for-36 passing for 163 yards in Sunday's victory over the Carolina Panthers. (Associated Press)

Redskins make Alex Smith comfortable enough in win over Panthers

After last week's beating by the Saints, quarterback Alex Smith talked about the comfort level of the offense when the Redskins fall behind early in a game. So Sunday, the Carolina Panthers -- specifically their special teams said, "Alex, let us make you feel comfortable," on their way to a 23-17 loss to Smith and Co.

October 14, 2018