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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

Despite not having enough at bats to qualify for the batting title, Nationals infielder Howie Kendrick led the league in hitting with a .344 average. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Howie Kendrick was most valuable player for the Nationals

You could make the case that Kendrick, one of the Nationals postseason stars and the National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player, was an MVP candidate for the regular season as well, if we are to accept the meaning of the word "valuable." No Washington National may have been more valuable to this team this season than Kendrick.

November 10, 2019
Washington Redskins offensive tackle Trent Williams (71) takes the field for warms up before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) ** FILE **

Redskins missed lesson in Nationals’ handling of Stephen Strasburg

There is no shortage of material to contrast the way the Nationals and the Redskins do business -- in case you missed the World Series trophy the Nationals held high during their celebration parade on Saturday -- but nothing illustrates the difference between the two organizations more starkly than the treatment of their two star players, Strasburg and Williams.

November 5, 2019
In this Oct. 30, 1974 file photo, referee Zack Clayton, right, steps in after challenger Muhammad Ali looks on after knocking down defending heavyweight champion George Foreman in the eighth round of their championship bout in Kinshasa, Zaire. Ali regained the world heavyweight crown by knockout in the eighth round of the fight dubbed "Rumble in the Jungle." (AP Photo/File) **FILE**

Muhammad Ali - George Foreman ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ still as great as it gets 45 years later

So boys and girls, gather around, and let me tell you a story about one of the greatest sporting events of the 20th century that took place in the heart of Africa -- a battle between the greatest sports icon of the century and a fearsome opponent who would later become the greatest television pitch man of all time. That's a lot of great, I know. But the "Rumble in the Jungle" 45 years ago Wednesday -- Oct. 30, 1974 -- was as great as it gets. There has not been another like it since.

October 29, 2019
Washington Nationals pitcher Joe Ross throws against the Houston Astros during the first inning of Game 5 of the baseball World Series Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Joe Ross was World Series reality fans did not expect

This was it, Nationals fans. No more baseball this season in Washington. You paid thousands of dollars to watch a World Series in this city for the first time in 86 years, and you got just that -- the World Series.

October 27, 2019
Washington Nationals pitcher Joe Ross throws against the Houston Astros during the first inning of Game 5 of the baseball World Series Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Joe Ross was World Series reality fans didn’t expect

This was it, Nationals fans. No more baseball this season in Washington. You paid thousands of dollars to watch a World Series in this city for the first time in 86 years, and you got just that -- the World Series.

October 27, 2019
Washington Redskins quarterback Dwayne Haskins Jr. throws against the Minnesota Vikings during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) **FILE**

Dwayne Haskins should study Book of RGIII for blueprint to future

Questions are swirling around the team's reluctance to put Haskins on the field. Typically, quarterbacks who are first-round picks are ready to at least try to compete on an NFL field, particularly those selected at No. 15. The Redskins appear afraid to put Haskins on the field.

October 27, 2019
Washington Nationals' Adam Eaton scores on a double by Anthony Rendon during the first inning of Game 2 of the baseball World Series against the Houston Astros Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) **FILE**

Nationals’ old-school ‘putting-the-ball-in-play’ mantra part of identity

Strikeouts have gone up every year for at least a decade, as players are being taught to try to drive the ball out of the park, even at the cost of striking out. They have been taught the risk is worth the reward, part of the analytics movement. Not in Washington, where the value of putting the ball in play is still paramount. The players believe it is part of this team's comeback identity.

October 24, 2019
Washington Nationals' Kurt Suzuki hits a home run during the seventh inning of Game 2 of the baseball World Series against the Houston Astros Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Kurt Suzuki extinguishes Astros

Kurt Suzuki took the Astros' heart with his solo home run in the top of the seventh, breaking a 2-2 tie and sending a signal to his Nationals teammates that it was time to dance.

October 24, 2019
Washington Nationals' Juan Soto reacts after hitting a two-run scoring double during the fifth inning of Game 1 of the baseball World Series against the Houston Astros Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Juan Soto star turn gives Nationals win

Juan Soto continued to write his name in the 21st-century record book by driving in three runs Monday night and leading the Washington Nationals to a 5-4 Game 1 World Series win over the Astros before a silenced crowd of 43,339.

October 23, 2019
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer warms up during batting practice for baseball's World Series Monday, Oct. 21, 2019, in Houston. The Houston Astros face the Washington Nationals in Game 1 on Tuesday. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Nationals see D.C.’s first World Series opener in 86 years

When the Nationals come back to host Games 3 and 4, and possibly Game 5, it will be something unprecedented that fans here will witness. No, the Capitals' Stanley Cup doesn't measure up. No, the Bullets 1978 NBA championship isn't comparable.

October 21, 2019
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan speaks at a news conference after an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Kyle Shanahan gets revenge on Redskins

A 9-0 shutout Sunday of Washington at the annual Alumni Homecoming game may not have been the way that San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan envisioned. But a win is a win.

October 20, 2019
Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez kisses the NLCS trophy after Game 4 of the baseball National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019, in Washington. The Nationals won 7-4 to win the series 4-0. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) **FILE**

Dave Martinez’s message, style have not changed since day he took Nationals manager job

Martinez -- with zero managing experience -- went beyond all his predecessors' boasts and excitement and formulas for success and put himself out there with his testimony that nothing less than a World Series title would do. And now, here he is, farther than anyone who came before him, on the brink of talking his goals into existence.

October 17, 2019