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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 Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby pauses during the third period in Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights, Saturday, June 2, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Vegas can have glitz, Capitals want the Cup

Sting was there, so was Wonder Woman and even Joe Gibbs. Turns out the Capitals didn't need superstars or superheroines or the most beloved coach the city has known. They had Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Braden Holtby.

June 3, 2018
FILE - In this May 15, 2013, file photo, Washington Capitals general manager George McPhee talks with reporters at the Kettler Iceplex in Arlington, Va. A person with direct knowledge of the decision says McPhee has been hired as general manager of the NHL's expansion Las Vegas franchise. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because owner Bill Foley's announcement was set for Wednesday afternoon, July 13, 2016. McPhee most recently served as special advisor to New York Islanders GM Garth Snow. Before that he spent 16 seasons as GM of the Washington Capitals. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, FIle) **FILE**

George McPhee, Vegas general manager, built much of Capitals roster

McPhee, who was the general manager in Washington from 1997 until he was fired in April 2014, is responsible for more than half of the Capitals roster that won just its second Eastern Conference championship and it playing in just their second Stanley Cup Final.

May 27, 2018
Washington Capitals right wing Devante Smith-Pelly (25) celebrates his goal past Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88), from Russia, during the third period of Game 6 of the NHL Eastern Conference finals hockey playoff series, Monday, May 21, 2018, in Washington. The Capitals won 3-0. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) **FILE**

Capitals need someone in Game 7 to take legendary ‘one giant leap’

Now the Capitals need someone to be Buzz Aldrin -- the second man to take that legendary "one giant leap." The Capitals need someone to write a new name into the history books Wednesday night and lead the team past the tenacious Tampa Bay Lightning and into a showdown with the fairy tale Vegas Golden Knights.

May 22, 2018
A shot from Tampa Bay Lightning center Cedric Paquette gets past Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby for a first-period goal during Game 5 of the NHL hockey Eastern Conference finals Saturday, May 19, 2018, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Braden Holtby holds key to Capitals’ fate

The Capitals can dominate, but are not dominant in the most important moments. The Capitals can play well, but they cannot sustain success. The Capitals are capable of winning, but seem far more comfortable folding. The answer? It's been the same since this round of the playoffs started -- Braden Holtby.

May 20, 2018
Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (8) shakes hands with Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin (71) after the Capitals' 2-1 overtime win in Game 6 of an NHL second-round hockey playoff series in Pittsburgh, Monday, May 7, 2018. The Capitals won the series, four games to two. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Alex Ovechkin has chance to elevate his legacy

The distance between the Stanley Cup and the greatest goal scorer of his era seemed destined to grow each year with every early Capitals playoff exit. Today, Ovechkin is closer than he's ever been, thanks to Monday night's win.

May 8, 2018
Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby (70) defends with the help of right wing Devante Smith-Pelly (25) against Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) during the first period of Game 5 in the second round of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey playoffs, Saturday, May 5, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) **FILE**

Braden Holtby saves Capitals fans from more despair

Braden Holtby wants you to know that when you were sitting in your seats at the Capital One Arena or on the couch at home Saturday night in despair after that Game 5 second period when it seemed the Washington Capitals were on the brink of their familiar collapse against the Pittsburgh Penguins, he was sitting right there with you.

May 6, 2018
FILE - In this Aug. 24, 2013, file photo, Washington Redskins cheerleaders run out of a tunnel before an NFL preseason football game against the Buffalo Bills in Landover, Md. The Redskins say they're concerned by allegations made by cheerleaders in a New York Times article about a trip to Costa Rica for a photo shoot in 2013. Team president Bruce Allen said in a statement Thursday, May 3, 2018, that the organization is immediately looking into the situation. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File) **FILE**

Directing blame for Redskins cheerleader scandal

If you are a Redskins fan and have read the New York Times story about how some of the team's cheerleaders claim they were pressured into serving as escorts for clients and felt uncomfortable during topless photo shoots on a trip to Costa Rica, you're probably angry.

May 3, 2018
In this April 3, 2017, file photo, Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Kevin Gausman throws to the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning of an opening day baseball game in Baltimore. The Orioles have launched a program that will enable kids to attend home games this season free of charge. Fulfilling a child’s request to “take me out to the ballpark” has become a lot cheaper at Camden Yards. Every adult who purchases a regularly-priced upper deck ticket can bring up to two children, age 9 or under. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File) **FILE**

How 1988 losing streak gave birth to Camden Yards

At some point, Baltimore and Orioles fans embraced the losing streak of 1988 and turned it into a badge of honor -- at least for the start of the season. By the end, with a 54-107 record, it wasn't as much fun.

May 1, 2018
Joe Gibbs led the Redskins to three Super Bowl championships. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

Washington’s sports Mount Rushmore would have six names

Mount Rushmore opened in 1941, and we've been rebuilding it ever since. It's become a popular measuring stick for sports greats — the Mount Rushmore of baseball players, the Mount Rushmore of NFL coaches, the Mount Rushmore of pickleball greats, among many others.

April 26, 2018