There are a lot of great sports writers who spent 20-plus years at The Washington Times who are losing their jobs. The Times is ending its sports coverage and becoming a political paper to survive after 26 years of hard work by a lot of people.
I spent 20 years at the Times before leaving in 2005 to become the Examiner’s columnist. I feel badly for a lot of friends who are unemployed in the dying age of newspapers.
They deserve a proper farewell.
David Elfin was my partner on several beats, including the Redskins. He was also former president of the Pro Football Writers Association and a Pro Football Hall of Fame voter. Dave knows more about the Redskins than anyone in town.
Dan Daly is the most knowledgeable columnist in town. He doesn’t do TV or radio much so people may not know him as well, but Dan knows more about NFL history than 99 percent of those who cover it.
Gene Mueller is the best outdoors writer in the country – period. He makes those who don’t fish or hunt still read his stories. That says it all.
Mark Zuckerman is a solid baseball writer. Corey Masisak is a very promising hockey writer I first noticed when he wrote for the Maryland student paper. Patrick Stevens works as hard as anyone while covering Maryland. Bob Cohn writes good features. Ryan O’Halloran did a good job on the Redskins beat.
Dick Heller was my mentor on the copy desk. Used to just give me hell for poor writing or reporting. He made me whatever I am today. I worked hard just to get him off my back. Dick has covered Washington sports for more than 50 years and still plans to produce his remembrance columns online. Nobody else writes those.
It was a hard-working staff that often bested competitors despite fewer resources. Hopefully, history will remember the Times for that.
The Times kicked the Post’s ass in sports and has for years. Better Caps coverage. Better Nats coverage. Loverro is the best columnist in town. It is a great loss………..