BASKETBALL

Griffin, Aldridge added to mix for Olympic team

USA Basketball announced the 20 players who will be candidates for the Olympic team, adding Blake Griffin of the Clippers and LaMarcus Aldridge of Portland to the 18 holdovers from either the 2008 Olympics or 2010 world championship who have said they wish to be considered again.

The 12-man roster and alternates for the Olympics will be chosen in June.

Returning from the team that won gold in Beijing are: Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and Deron Williams. Back from the reigning world champions are: Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, Tyson Chandler, Eric Gordon, Rudy Gay, Kevin Love, Lamar Odom, Chauncey Billups, Russell Westbrook and Andre Iguodala.

FOOTBALL

NFL: The Chicago Bears have interviewed New England Patriots director of pro personnel Jason Licht for their general manager job.

Licht rejoined the Patriots’ personnel department in 2009, after working there from 1999 to 2002. In between, he spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals.

• Oakland’s search for a head coach picked up steam as the team received permission to interview two Denver assistants — offensive coordinator Mike McCoy and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. McCoy also is a candidate for Miami’s head coaching job.

HOCKEY

AHL: Former UMaine goalie Ben Bishop was named the American Hockey League player of the week.

Bishop went 2-0 for the Peoria Rivermen, the St. Louis Blues’ farm club, while stopping 70 of 71 shots.

SOCCER

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Edin Dzeko ended Manchester City’s two-month road winless streak in the Premier League, scoring on a header off David Silva’s free kick in the 22nd minute for a 1-0 victory over Wigan.

Manchester City opened a three-point lead over second-place Manchester United.

AUTO RACING

SPRINT CUP: David Ragan finally found a job for the 2012 season — driving for Front Row Motorsports.

Ragan will drive the No. 34 Ford and team with David Gilliland. The team said that sponsorship for both cars is still to be completed.

Ragan was let go from Roush Fenway Racing when sponsorship from UPS was reduced and the organization scaled back to three full-time cars.

INDYCAR: Katherine Legge signed a two-year deal with a one-year option to drive for Jay Penske, son of record-setting IndyCar owner Roger Penske.

Legge, 31, won three races in Toyota Atlantics in 2005, becoming the first woman to win a major open-wheel race in North America. She also was the first woman to compete in the defunct Champ Car series, and spent the last three seasons as a factory driver for Audi in the European-based DTM, the world’s top touring car series.

 – From staff and news services