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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 Commanders defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023, in Foxborough, Mass. The Washington Commanders have fired defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio and defensive backs coach Brent Vieselmeyer. Del Rio was 12 games into his fourth season with the team. The moves made Friday, Nov. 24, come after the Commanders lost 45-10 at Dallas on Thursday. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) **FILE**

LOVERRO: Del Rio’s firing goes beyond Commanders’ poor defensive play

After an inconsistent four seasons, including a disappointing 2023 season to date, with a 4-8 record that has seen Jack Del Rio's high-profile defense result in a bottom-feeding defense in nearly every measurable category, Del Rio, 60, was fired by Commanders coach Ron Rivera -- at least we are being led to believe it was his decision.

November 28, 2023
Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher watches during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Miami, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) **FILE**

LOVERRO: Everyone’s got a Jimbo Fisher bad contract story

I hope John Fisher Day doesn't supplant July 1 -- Bobby Bonilla Day -- as a celebration of the worst contract in the history of sports. I like Bobby -- he was my favorite ballplayer to cover -- and Bobby Bonilla Day is sort of like his eternal flame.

November 21, 2023
Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera on the field before the start of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

LOVERRO: Short week likely a lifeline for short-timer Rivera

The Commanders rewarded those Giants fans who made the trek to Landover Sunday by coughing up three interceptions and three lost fumbles, and making practice squad quarterback Jersey Tommy Devito look like Eli Manning playing the Patriots.

November 19, 2023
Washington Nationals' Bryce Harper watches his two-run homer during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, in Washington. The Nationals won 5-2. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

LOVERRO: For Washington fans, MVP-level performances few, far between

For sports fans, that moment of seeing a hometown hero honored as a league MVP can be the icing on the cake of a great year, or, in some cases, a frustrating reminder of missed opportunities. Either way, it's not the kind of moment that Washington-area fans -- especially baseball fans -- have a lot of familiarity with.

November 16, 2023
Washington Commanders defensive end Chase Young (99) warms up before an NFL football game against the New York Giants on Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

LOVERRO: Unfulfilled promise of Chase Young epitomizes franchise’s futility

The Commanders, with a couple of moves that indicate new owner Josh Harris has big changes in mind, let Chase Young go for a third-round 2024 draft choice after dealing fellow defensive end Montez Sweat -- who was also in the last year of his contract -- to the Chicago Bears for a second-rounder.

November 1, 2023
Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera pauses while speaking to members of the media at the end of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023, in Landover, Md. Eagles won 38-31. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

LOVERRO: Loss to Eagles shows what Commanders are missing on sidelines

Eric Bieniemy created a game plan that allowed Howell to get rid of the ball quickly in a shorter, less ambitious, passing game, and the 23-year-old quarterback made the most of it, completing 39 passes for 397 yards, four touchdowns and one costly interception that led to an Eagles touchdown.

October 29, 2023
Capitals fans in the stands before an NHL game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Capital One Arena in Washington D.C., January 8, 2023. (Photo by Billy Sabatini) **FILE**

LOVERRO: Capitals vital to keeping downtown D.C. area around arena alive

The streets around Capital One Arena will be filled Friday night with fans dressed in red to celebrate the home opener of the Washington Capitals. The times that thousands of visitors are downtown in the District are rarer and rarer in the aftermath of COVID-19 and the changes that have affected commuting into the city.

October 12, 2023
Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper reacts after hitting a three run home run during the third inning of Game 3 of a baseball NL Division Series against the Atlanta Braves Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

LOVERRO: Harper has become the hero Philadelphia always wanted

The former Washington Nationals star has become everything that was expected of him when he was on the cover of Sports Illustrated at the age of 16. He is everything we thought he would be when he was selected by the Washington Nationals as the first pick in the 2010 baseball draft.

October 11, 2023