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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

Tampa Bay Rays Principal Owner Stuart Sternberg greets people before a press conference at the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Fla., Tuesday, June 25, 2019. Sternberg spoke about exploring the prospect of playing some future home games in Montreal. (Scott Keeler/Tampa Bay Times via AP)

MLB using relocation threat, again, to squeeze taxpayers

During the 34 years the nation's capital went without a team, baseball had its patsy, its stalking horse, something owners could use to hold the threat of relocation over the heads of their respective cities.

June 25, 2019
Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson, right, throws to first base for a double play after forcing out Washington Nationals' Adam Eaton at second on Anthony Rendon's ground ball to end the eighth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, June 23, 2019, in Washington. Atlanta won 4-3. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

LOVERRO: Season-defining moment escapes Nationals’ grasp

After splitting four games with the Arizona Diamondbacks, they faced the two teams ahead of them in the division, Philadelphia and Atlanta -- so coming away with six wins counts for something. But the last 10 could have been more.

June 23, 2019
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz signs autographs for fans following practice at NFL football training camp, Sunday, Aug. 14, 2016, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola) **FILE**

NFL teams charging fee to watch training camp a tone-deaf move

The Philadelphia Eagles have announced that they will charge fans to watch their team at training camp. Admission will cost $5 to $10. The teams says proceeds will go to charity. Still, the decision is so brazenly tone deaf that it manages to insult the idea of raising money for a good cause.

June 20, 2019
Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez walks in the dugout before a baseball game against the New York Mets, Sunday, March 31, 2019, in Washington. The Nationals won 6-5.(AP Photo/Nick Wass) **FILE**

Dave Martinez explains how Nationals’ turnaround starts now

Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez spent Monday afternoon pushing a big truck tire around Nationals Park 100 times. A symbol, perhaps, of what his team faces this week in two home series against division rivals, the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves? And, beyond that, for the rest of the 2019 season? Or just a 54-year-old tough guy trying to stay in shape?

June 18, 2019
Former Redskins coach Bill McPeak was a happy man when Washington acquired Sonny Jurgensen before the 1964 season. But the happiness was fleeting, as McPeak was fired after the 1965 season. He went 21-46 overall. (associated press)

David Ortiz Boston link like Jurgensen’s D.C. bond

The outpouring of emotion for David Ortiz following the shooting of the former major league baseball star in the Dominican Republic was a reminder, or a lesson, in case we needed one, about how much a sports star can come to mean to a city.

June 11, 2019
FILE - In this Sept. 9, 2018, file photo, Washington Redskins offensive tackle Trent Williams (71) is shown in action during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, in Glendale, Ariz. A franchise known for the "Hogs" offensive line from the Super Bowl era, the Washington Redskins might have another season-altering group in the trenches this season. Led by left tackle Trent Williams, Washington's "Hogs 2.0" offensive line is a dream to play behind for running back Adrian Peterson and quarterback Alex Smith. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)

Trent Williams mess will cost Redskins

We may never know what the "truth" really is behind Trent Williams' absence. But it really doesn't matter. Damage has already been done.

June 9, 2019
In this Wednesday, May 8, 2019, file photo, Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant, left, walks away from referee Ken Mauer during the first half of Game 5 of the team's second-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Houston Rockets in Oakland, Calif. Durant is yet to progress to on-court work in his recovery from a strained right calf and won't be ready to return for Golden State in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on May 30. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File) **FILE**

Kevin Durant legacy on line in Finals

Yes, Kevin Durant has two finals' MVP trophies to go along with his two rings, but there are still many who question Durant's relevance with the Warriors.

May 28, 2019
Former Washington Redskins coach and NASCAR racing team owner Joe Gibbs is now immortalized as a leader in two major halls of fame. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Joe Gibbs’ leadership legacy unmatched in pro sports

The legend of Coach Gibbs was perhaps solidified at a level unprecedented by anyone else who ever called himself coach when the news came out last week that Gibbs was elected to NASCAR Hall of Fame last week.

May 26, 2019
Washington Redskins running back Adrian Peterson leaves the field after an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. The Titans won 25-16.(AP Photo/Mark Zaleski) ** FILE **

Redskins hold two days of workouts with many leaders, stars absent

A team that has done nothing and gone nowhere for two decades, a team that supposedly likes its head coach, who is in the final year of his contract, a team with a brand new rookie quarterback who has been crowned after just a few snaps in voluntary workouts and a new veteran quarterback who came over in a trade -- should show up for all workouts from Day 1, voluntary or not.

May 21, 2019
Duke's Zion Williamson arrives for the NBA basketball draft lottery Tuesday, May 14, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nuccio DiNuzzo)

Maravich era was last time N.O. basketball mattered

When I was in New Orleans in late January for a few days, I was struck by the absence of any inkling that the city had an NBA franchise. Nothing -- no hats, no T-shirts, no billboards, nothing. It was as if the New Orleans Pelicans didn't exist.

May 16, 2019