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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

Rocky Ballard works to get the field at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches ready for Tuesday's spring training game between the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros. Ground crews rushed to get the park ready for the opening of the new $153 million spring training home that the two teams will share. The Nationals won, 4-3. (Associated Press)

Nationals open new glitzy spring training home in land of mansions

The crowd for Opening Day was announced at 5,987, which officially was not a sellout. There were a surprising number of empty seats, given the attention this project has received locally and the money -- estimated to be as high as $153 million when the final costs are tallied up.

February 28, 2017
Victor Robles (16) of the Potomac Nationals at bat against the Winston-Salem Dash at BB&T Ballpark on July 15, 2016 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The Dash defeated the Nationals 10-4. (Brian Westerholt/Four Seam Images via AP Images)

Victor Robles has earned status as crown jewel of Nationals’ farm system

Robles is the Nationals' lone crown jewel in a farm system that took a hit this winter. The first two names on the list of objects of desire from other clubs, including the White Sox in the Chris Sale trade talks, were Trea Turner and Robles. Washington wasn't willing to part with either.

February 23, 2017
Former Maryland men's basketball coach Lefty Driesell, center, acknowledges fans as he stands with family and former players during a ceremony to commemorate his Terrapins career before an NCAA college basketball game between Maryland and Ohio State, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, in College Park, Md. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Lefty Driesell’s legacy at Maryland nearly happened elsewhere

The 85-year-old, larger-than-life figure who put Maryland basketball on the map when he arrived full of bluster in 1969 was recognized for his ground-breaking tenure as the Terps head coach Saturday afternoon in a home game against Ohio State when the school raised a banner with Lefty's name on it from the rafters of the Xfinity Center.

February 12, 2017
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) gestures after he scored a basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Monday, Feb. 6, 2017, in Washington. The Cavaliers won 140-135 in overtime. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

‘Respect’ is Wizards’ participation trophy

The last time we saw these Washington Wizards was 21 months ago, when Paul Pierce's game-tying three-pointer was waved off in Game 6 of the 2015 Eastern Conference semifinals, eliminating the Wizards in a 94-91 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

February 7, 2017
FILE - In this Jan. 23, 1991, file photo, New York Giants defensive coordinator Bill Belichick, center, goes over the defensive game plan with other coaches as they prepare for Super Bowl 25 against the Buffalo Bills, in Tampa, Fla. The Giants defeated the Bills 20-19 in Super Bowl 25 on Jan. 25, 1991. The top "D" almost always prevails against the top "O," going 5-1 so far when those teams meet to determine a champion _ even though each offense was led by a quarterback who is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame (or, in the most recent case, is expected to be). (AP Photo/File)

Bill Belichick will have an answer for the Falcons

The question this week will be: How can Bill Belichick and the Patriots defense possibly stop Matt Ryan and the potent Falcons' offense? Former Bills quarterback Jim Kelly can point to the answer: It's enshrined in Canton.

January 29, 2017
Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden rubs his eyes during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants in Landover, Md., Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Kirk Cousins contract a referendum on Jay Gruden, too

If Kirk Cousins, after two years, 54 touchdown passes, 9,083 yards passing and a 17-14-1 record, is not the Redskins quarterback for 2017, we'll know how much power and influence Jay Gruden has in the organization.

January 26, 2017
Washington Redskins - Super Bowl championships (3) 1982 (XVII), 1987 (XXII), 1991 (XXVI) Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway (7) scrambles under pressure from Washington Redskins Dexter Manley and Monte Coleman (51) in Super Bowl XXII, Jan. 31, 1988, in San Diego. Elway was sacked five times and threw three interceptions as the Broncos lost 42-10, their second consecutive Super Bowl loss. (AP Photo)

LOVERRO: 25 dark years since Redskins’s last Super Bowl

There are franchises that have never had what the Redskins had with Joe Gibbs. Take for example, the Atlanta Falcons, who will face the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. The Falcons came into existence in 1966. This will be their second Super Bowl game.

January 24, 2017