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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

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was absent from the team's NatsFest on Saturday at a time when he and his agent Scott Boras (left) have a grievance against the team regarding a provision that was not included in Harper's contract in 2010. That provision would make him eligible for arbitration early. (Associated Press) **FILE**

Nationals likely to be left out of Bryce ‘Harper’s bazaar’

Whatever the Nationals' offer was, no one expected Harper and Boras to take it. They are determined to bring Harper to free agency, in what Boras, talking to reporters earlier this week at the baseball general managers meeting in Carlsbad, California, called, "Harper's Bazaar."

November 8, 2018
Washington Redskins quarterback Alex Smith faces a Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday with a patch-work offensive line and watered-down offensive weapons. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Alex Smith’s worth to Redskins to be revealed in Tampa

After the Washington Redskins acquired Alex Smith, coach Jay Gruden testified in favor of the trade --enthusiastically, glowingly, effusively. In fact, he said the team was better off with Smith at quarterback than they had been with the previous quarterback, without mentioning his name. Well, we'll find out Sunday in Tampa against the Buccaneers.

November 6, 2018
University of Maryland president Wallace Loh, left, speaks at a news conference in front of James Brady, chairman of the University System of Maryland Board of Regents, following the board's recommendation that football head coach DJ Durkin retain his job, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, in Baltimore. Durkin has been on paid administrative leave since August, following the death of a player who collapsed during practice and an investigation of bullying by the Maryland coaching staff. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) **FILE**

Maryland’s bullies finally being held accountable for their culpability

Fortunately, as much as the gangsters would love to run their fiefdom like strong-armed dictators, they are accountable to the rest of the human race and the reactions nationwide to the horror of trying to retain head football coach DJ Durkin -- the head man with the responsibility to protect the young athletes parents placed in his care, an obligation he miserably failed to fulfill.

November 1, 2018
Washington Nationals' President Stan Kasten, right, and Vice President of Baseball Operations Mike Rizzo, speak during a news conference discussing the teams managerial situation, Monday, July 13, 2009, in Washington. Washington Nationals relieved Manny Acta as manager and named Jim Riggleman interim field manager. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) **FILE**

Red Sox, Dodgers connections helped facilitate return of baseball to D.C.

It was the Boston Red Sox who helped facilitate the return of baseball in Washington in 2005, and it was a key figure with the Los Angeles Dodgers who was instrumental in the ownership and development of the franchise in its early days following the relocation of the Montreal Expos to Washington.

October 25, 2018
Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden speaks with Washington Redskins quarterback Alex Smith (11) in the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Landover, Md. The Redskins defeated the Cowboys 20-17. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) ** FILE **

Redskins winning in spite of Jay Gruden not having fun with Alex Smith’s play

Jay Gruden should have a bounce in his step, a smile on his face and a song in his heart. He is the head coach of a winning team nearly halfway through the season. But there is this one problem -- he's winning without his favorite toy, the quarterback. In fact, he is winning in spite of his favorite toy.

October 23, 2018

What’s cooking at FedEx is an old Redskins recipe

A running back, a good defense, solid special teams and winning the turnover battle -- that recipe for success in your grandfather's NFL is today's blue-plate special for the Redskins.

October 21, 2018
Redskins quarterback Alex Smith staked Washington to a two-touchdown lead in the first quarter and finished 21-for-36 passing for 163 yards in Sunday's victory over the Carolina Panthers. (Associated Press)

Redskins make Alex Smith comfortable enough in win over Panthers

After last week's beating by the Saints, quarterback Alex Smith talked about the comfort level of the offense when the Redskins fall behind early in a game. So Sunday, the Carolina Panthers -- specifically their special teams said, "Alex, let us make you feel comfortable," on their way to a 23-17 loss to Smith and Co.

October 14, 2018
Nationals owner Mark Lerner (left) has presided over the decisions to not bring back Dusty Baker as well as last month's move to honor the recently-arrested Jayson Werth. (Associated PRess)

Lerners’ arrogance is Nationals’ way of doing business

If you want to do an autopsy on the Washington Nationals' disappointing 2018 season, you don't need to be a coroner. The cause of death is easy enough to spot -- just take another look at the line of Lerners sitting in the front row last Nov. 1 at the Nationals' press conference to introduce new manager Dave Martinez.

October 2, 2018
Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter, left, speaks with center fielder Adam Jones after a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018, in Baltimore. Baltimore won 4-0. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Major League Baseball needs an Orioles franchise that works

Inevitably, the disease rooted in the B&O Warehouse was too strong to resist. And now you have the infected 115-loss Baltimore Orioles of 2018, and the widespread speculation that Showalter, whose contract is up, won't be retained.

September 30, 2018
As the NFL places more emphasis on safety, players like Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews may have to change how they tackle the quarterback. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

For NFL players, a safer game ought to be an easier sell

The NFL won't reverse course. No, this dramatic change in the way the game is played on the field is where the game and -- more importantly -- the business are going. This is the new world order of the NFL. Get used to it.

September 25, 2018