Will third time be the charm for XFL?

Once again, the XFL is trying to gain a foothold in the American sports landscape after two failed attempts.

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1. Will third time be the charm for XFL?

Once again, the XFL is trying to gain a foothold in the American sports landscape after two failed attempts. Can it finally work this time? The Sporting Tribune’s Steve Carp has the latest from the XFL Draft in Las Vegas.

While the NFL plays the second half of its 2022 season and all the usual intrigue that comes with it, another football league has been quietly going about its business preparing for its February 2023 relaunch. The XFL — remember those guys? — took another step toward reality Tuesday, holding its quarterback selection for its eight teams, one of which will play out of Las Vegas. Wednesday, the fledgling league will draft offensive skill positions, defensive backs, defensive front seven and offensive linemen. Thursday, will be a day to select specialists and open rounds for all positions as the teams look to develop some roster depth.

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2. Dodgers add 4 prospects to their 40-Man roster

The Dodgers added four prospects from their minor league system to their 40-Man roster on Tuesday and The Sporting Tribune’s Bruce Kuntz has the latest on these players, who are no longer eligible for the Rule 5 Draft this offseason.

The prospects who are now on the 40-Man roster in Los Angeles are catcher Diego Cartaya, infielder Michael Busch, and outfielders Andy Pages and Jonny DeLuca. Cartaya, Busch, and Pages were locks to be added to the roster. All three will likely hit the majors in the next year or two and would’ve been taken if they weren’t protected. It is, however, a bit of a surprise to see DeLuca get a spot over No. 8 prospect Jose Ramos.

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3. Juju Watkins commits to USC

Juju Watkins, the top recruit in the Class of 2023, announced her commitment Tuesday to USC. The Sporting Tribune has more on this story:

Ranked No. 1 in the espnW 100, Watkins chose coach Lindsay Gottlieb’s Trojans over finalists South Carolina and Stanford. Watkins averaged 25.0 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.7 steals and 1.9 blocks per game as a junior and was named California’s player of the year.

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4. Cooper Kupp to have ankle surgery

Rams receiver Cooper Kupp will have surgery on his right ankle Wednesday and The Sporting Tribune has the latest on the Rams’ injuries.

Coach Sean McVay confirmed Tuesday that Kupp has a high-ankle sprain and will undergo a procedure known as “tightrope” surgery. The team planned to place Kupp on injured reserve, meaning he will miss a minimum of four games. The Rams also lost two more offensive linemen Tuesday. Starting left tackle Alaric Jackson has been shut down for the rest of the season with blood clots, and Chandler Brewer will miss 4-6 weeks with a knee injury. McVay did not rule Kupp out for the season.

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5. Luka Doncic helps Mavs hold off furious Clippers rally

Luka Doncic scored 35 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, Dorian Finney-Smith hit seven 3-pointers en route to 21 points and the Dallas Mavericks outlasted the visiting Los Angeles Clippers 103-101 on Tuesday. The Sporting Tribune has more from Dallas.

The Mavericks dominated the first half, leading by as many as 25 points before intermission, thanks to suffocating defense. The Clippers — playing the second leg of a back-to-back — shot a woeful 11-for-32 (34.4 percent) from the floor in the first half. the Clippers battled back coming out of the locker room thanks to a complete reversal in its field-goal shooting.

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6. Where do the Ducks go from here?

Felix Sicard and Jake Rudolph have been doing a podcast about the Ducks since the 2017-2018 Anaheim Ducks season and they will continue to share their insights at The Sporting Tribune this season.

On this episode, they discuss what happens next for the Ducks after their difficult start to the season. Is it time to look to the future, make benches behind the bench, or let things play out? Click here to watch or listen to the podcast.

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7. Odds and Ends presented by Circa Sports

Here are some odds at Circa Sports if you’re thinking about placing a wager today:

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8. Ticket Time presented by TickPick  

Here are the “get in” prices for tickets if you’re thinking about going to a game this week:

Detroit Pistons at LA Clippers (Thursday): $16

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9. On the Air presented by Pirnia Law

Here are the game times and television channels for professional teams in the region:

7:00 p.m. – Los Angeles Kings at Edmonton Oilers – TNT  

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10. The Arash Markazi Show presented by The Sporting Tribune 

On Tuesday’s show, the crew talked about the Rams possibly losing Cooper Kupp for the season and the chances that Team USA could go on a run and advance to the Round of 16 in the World Cup, which starts this weekend.

Listen to The Arash Markazi Show presented by The Sporting Tribune on The Mightier 1090 ESPN Radio in Southern California, 98.5 The Fan in Las Vegas and the Hawaii Sports Radio Network 95.1 FM and 760 AM in Hawaii. You can also listen to the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Play and Stitcher.

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That’s it for today. Talk to you all tomorrow!