BASKETBALL

Blazers turn to former Sonics voice — The Portland Trail Blazers have hired veteran television broadcaster Kevin Calabro as their new play-by-play announcer. The announcement Friday came two days after the team said longtime on-air personalities Mike Barrett and Mike Rice would not return next season. Calabro was the TV and radio announcer for the Seattle SuperSonics for 21 years but did not join the team when it moved to Oklahoma City in 2008. He has since worked for various national media outlets, including ESPN Radio and Turner Broadcasting, while based in the Pacific Northwest. Blazers president and CEO Chris McGowan says the team is conducting a nationwide search for a color commentator to join Calabro.

FOOTBALL

Former Baylor coach withdraws court filing — Fired Baylor coach Art Briles has withdrawn a demand for new lawyers in a federal civil rights lawsuit against him and the university amid reports he has settled a contract dispute with the school. Briles’ lawyers had told a federal court Thursday he wanted attorneys separate from Baylor and had no intention of settling the lawsuit filed by a woman who was raped by a Baylor football player. The filing suggested a bitter court fight was brewing between Baylor and the coach who claimed his May 26 firing was wrongful termination. Briles withdrew the motion Friday as multiple media outlets cited anonymous sources in reporting Briles and Baylor had reached a settlement on his contract, which ran through 2023. According to USA Today’s coaches’ salary database, Briles made $4.2 million in 2015. Baylor, a private school, has not disclosed contract details.

GOLF

Thompson leads in LPGA event — Defending champion Lexi Thompson fought through back pain Friday to take the second-round lead in the Meijer LPGA Classic in Belmont, Michigan. The 21-year-old Thompson shot a 4-under 67, rebounding from bogeys on 15 and 16 with birdies on the final two holes to reach 10-under 132 at Blythefield. Canada’s Alena Sharp bogeyed her final hole to drop into a tie for second with South Korean players In Gee Chun, So Yeon Ryu and Q Baek. They all shot 67.

MOTOR SPORTS

Capps tops NHRA qualifying — Ron Capps raced to the Funny Car qualifying lead Friday in the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway in Tennessee. Capps powered his Dodge Charger R/T to the provisional top spot with a track-record 3.880-second pass at 323.66 mph. Capps is coming off victories as the No. 1 qualifier in New Hampshire and New Jersey. He has 20 top qualifiers in his career and is a three-time Thunder Valley winner.

— From wire reports