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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

FILE - In this Feb. 3, 2000, Vince McMahon, chairman of the World Wrestling Federation, speaks during a news conference in New York. The XFL is set for a surprising second life, McMahon announced Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018. McMahon said the XFL would return in 2020 but offered few other details about the late winter/early spring football league. (AP Photo/Ed Bailey, File) **FILE**

Vince McMahon’s white whale is the XFL

Two years from now, perhaps shortly after the final gun of Super Bowl 54, Vince McMahon will set sail on the sports media sea in his quest to hunt down his white whale -- the XFL, resurrecting the body of his failed football league.

February 6, 2018
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady fumbles after being stripped by Philadelphia Eagles Brandon Graham in the fourth quarter at Super Bowl 52 on Sunday, February 4, 2018 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)

One less reason to lord it over Eagles fans

If you have a one-score lead against the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, the last thing you want to see is Tom Brady with the football in his hand.

February 4, 2018
If former Washington Redskins offensive tackle Joe Jacoby gets into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the list of remaining Redskins worth induction into Canton gets a lot smaller. (Associated Press)

Joe Jacoby snub is proof Hall of Fame is broken

If Dallas Cowboys legendary defensive tackle Randy White had been in the room when the votes were being cast for the 2018 Pro Football Hall of Fame class, Joe Jacoby would be in.

February 4, 2018
FILE - In this Jan. 10, 2018, file photo, Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) pauses on the court during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz in Washington. Wall will have arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Wednesday and could miss much of the rest of the regular season, the Wizards announced Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

No bench, no backup now means no Wall for Wizards

If they someday make a film about the John Wall Wizards, they may call it "I, Ernie." Like Tonya Harding, the Wizards general manager didn't swing a baton to damage Wall's knees. But Ernie Grunfeld is certainly a co-conspirator.

January 30, 2018
In this July 11, 2017, file photo, former MLB player Alex Rodriguez reports from the field during the MLB baseball All-Star Game in Miami. Rodriguez, ESPN’s new Sunday night analyst, doesn’t mind the lengthening time it takes to play a big league game. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

Alex Rodriguez worms his way back

Who knows what the voters for baseball's Hall of Fame will think in 2021 -- the first of 10 years A-Rod could be eligible for election?

January 28, 2018
FILE - In this July 23, 2007, file photo, New York Yankees starting pitcher Roger Clemens throws to a Kansas City Royals batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Kansas City, Mo. Clemens and Barry Bonds fell short in elections to the baseball Hall of Fame. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga, File)

Time is running out on baseball’s cheaters

Despite the cries from the Cheated Generation about the persecution of "victims" like Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, tantrums have failed to give either Clemens or Bonds the momentum needed to reach the 75 percent threshold for entry.

January 25, 2018
Scot McCloughan, right, speaks during an NFL football press conference where he was introduced as the Washington Redskins new general manager, Friday, Jan. 9, 2015, in Ashburn, Va. At left is Washington Redskins president Bruce Allen. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) **FILE**

Bruce Allen needs to be fired if Cousins walks

When Kirk Cousins goes out the door and signs as a free agent with another team -- a seemingly forgone conclusion -- the Redskins' Prince of Darkness should be kicked out right behind him.

January 23, 2018
CORRECTS SPELLING TO DIGGS NOT RIGGS Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) celebrates in the end zone after a game winning touchdown against the New Orleans Saints during the second half of an NFL divisional football playoff game in Minneapolis, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018. The Vikings defeated the Saints 29-24. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Stefon Diggs, NFL give us a game for history

And now the world will wake up Monday morning to the greatness of Stefon Diggs, who pulled down a dramatic game-winning catch with the clock running down to zero and led the Vikings to a 29-24 come-from-behind victory over the New Orleans Saints that they will talk about for years in the land of 10,000 lakes.

January 14, 2018
Washington Redskins outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan (91) sacks Denver Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) during the second half an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Dec 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Among the losers, some Redskins worth honoring

The last Redskin inducted into the team's Ring of Fame was linebacker Monte Coleman in, who played in the 1970s, 1980s and into the 1990s. What about the generation that has worn the burgundy and gold since?

January 14, 2018
Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa speaks at a press conference in Atlanta, Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018. Alabama beat Georgia 26-23 in overtime to win the NCAA college football playoff championship game on Monday night. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Tua Tagovailoa is America’s new Tim Tebow

Tua Tagovailoa told reporters that he was drawn to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, because he felt God there. I guess no one told him that's Nick Saban's nickname in Alabama.

January 9, 2018
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) passes in the first half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers in New Orleans, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Not exactly a showcase weekend for the NFL

If the NFL was hoping to change the narrative defining its product this season --bad football, bad quarterbacking, bad officiating and frustration about replays and rules -- this wild card weekend did little to do that.

January 7, 2018
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick speaks to the media following an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Bill Belichick in N.Y. would be nightmare for Redskins

Bill Belichick's future suddenly seems in play, with the report that there is real turmoil within the Patriots organization over tensions between the coach, owner Robert Kraft and NFL MVP-to-be quarterback Tom Brady.

January 7, 2018
Redskins coach Jay Gruden talked up Colt McCoy this week in his autopsy of his team's 7-9 season. When asked how comfortable he would be with the 31-year-old McCoy as the starting quarterback, Gruden answered, "How comfortable? Colt McCoy has done an excellent job here. I've always been comfortable with Colt." (Associated Press)

Colt McCoy might be a wild card if Kirk Cousins doesn’t return

The last time, the Redskins weren't quite honest with McCoy when the time came to change starting quarterbacks. But this time, if the Kirk Cousins era is truly coming to an end in Washington, they need to look no further for a replacement -- at least for next season -- than number 12.

January 4, 2018
Washington Redskins coach Jay Gruden looks on before an NFL football game against the New York Giants Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun) **FILE**

Redskins keep coaches who can’t succeed

While he's here in Washington, Gruden gets a pass, of sorts, because of the self-destructive aura that engulfs this franchise -- the one that has led to one coaching change after another, from Norv Turner, Marty Schottenheimer, Steve Spurrier, Jim Zorn and Mike Shanahan to the second era of Joe Gibbs.

January 2, 2018