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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 Capitals team owner Ted Leonsis hoists the Stanley Cup after after the Capitals defeated the Golden Knights 4-3 in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals Thursday, June 7, 2018, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Alex Ovechkin, Capitals and a priceless memory

Washington sports fans, make room for June 7, 2018 -- the night the Washington Capitals won their first Stanley Cup and brought the first championship to the city in 26 years.

June 7, 2018
Football Commissioner Pete Rozelle, right, pays a call on Baseball Commissioner William D. Eckert at the latter's office on July 27, 1966 in New York. It was the first formal meeting of the two commissioners. (Associated Press)

Robert F. Kennedy’s death divided sports and politics 50 years ago

Anything that is going to have the powerful symbolism of sports is also going to generate enough passion to divide as well, in death as well as life. That was the case 50 years ago, as Major League Baseball tried to cope with the proper way to mourn the death of New York Senator and Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy on June 6, 1968.

June 7, 2018
Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson, center, celebrates his goal against the Vegas Golden Knights with Alex Ovechkin, left, of Russia, and Nicklas Backstrom, right, of Sweden, during the second period in Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final, Monday, June 4, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Cool, confident Capitals take destiny by the throat

When Devante Smith-Pelly scored the third goal late in the first period of Game 4 of the Stanley Cup finals Monday night at Capital One Arena, it may have been the loudest I've ever heard the building.

June 5, 2018
Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby pauses during the third period in Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights, Saturday, June 2, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Vegas can have glitz, Capitals want the Cup

Sting was there, so was Wonder Woman and even Joe Gibbs. Turns out the Capitals didn't need superstars or superheroines or the most beloved coach the city has known. They had Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Braden Holtby.

June 3, 2018
FILE - In this May 15, 2013, file photo, Washington Capitals general manager George McPhee talks with reporters at the Kettler Iceplex in Arlington, Va. A person with direct knowledge of the decision says McPhee has been hired as general manager of the NHL's expansion Las Vegas franchise. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because owner Bill Foley's announcement was set for Wednesday afternoon, July 13, 2016. McPhee most recently served as special advisor to New York Islanders GM Garth Snow. Before that he spent 16 seasons as GM of the Washington Capitals. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, FIle) **FILE**

George McPhee, Vegas general manager, built much of Capitals roster

McPhee, who was the general manager in Washington from 1997 until he was fired in April 2014, is responsible for more than half of the Capitals roster that won just its second Eastern Conference championship and it playing in just their second Stanley Cup Final.

May 27, 2018
Washington Capitals right wing Devante Smith-Pelly (25) celebrates his goal past Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88), from Russia, during the third period of Game 6 of the NHL Eastern Conference finals hockey playoff series, Monday, May 21, 2018, in Washington. The Capitals won 3-0. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) **FILE**

Capitals need someone in Game 7 to take legendary ‘one giant leap’

Now the Capitals need someone to be Buzz Aldrin -- the second man to take that legendary "one giant leap." The Capitals need someone to write a new name into the history books Wednesday night and lead the team past the tenacious Tampa Bay Lightning and into a showdown with the fairy tale Vegas Golden Knights.

May 22, 2018
A shot from Tampa Bay Lightning center Cedric Paquette gets past Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby for a first-period goal during Game 5 of the NHL hockey Eastern Conference finals Saturday, May 19, 2018, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Braden Holtby holds key to Capitals’ fate

The Capitals can dominate, but are not dominant in the most important moments. The Capitals can play well, but they cannot sustain success. The Capitals are capable of winning, but seem far more comfortable folding. The answer? It's been the same since this round of the playoffs started -- Braden Holtby.

May 20, 2018
Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (8) shakes hands with Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin (71) after the Capitals' 2-1 overtime win in Game 6 of an NHL second-round hockey playoff series in Pittsburgh, Monday, May 7, 2018. The Capitals won the series, four games to two. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Alex Ovechkin has chance to elevate his legacy

The distance between the Stanley Cup and the greatest goal scorer of his era seemed destined to grow each year with every early Capitals playoff exit. Today, Ovechkin is closer than he's ever been, thanks to Monday night's win.

May 8, 2018
Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby (70) defends with the help of right wing Devante Smith-Pelly (25) against Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) during the first period of Game 5 in the second round of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey playoffs, Saturday, May 5, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) **FILE**

Braden Holtby saves Capitals fans from more despair

Braden Holtby wants you to know that when you were sitting in your seats at the Capital One Arena or on the couch at home Saturday night in despair after that Game 5 second period when it seemed the Washington Capitals were on the brink of their familiar collapse against the Pittsburgh Penguins, he was sitting right there with you.

May 6, 2018