Ohio State to give

athletes iPads

COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio State’s department of athletics will begin providing its student-athletes with iPads this fall.

Dr. David Graham, Ohio State’s assistant provost for student-athlete success, announced the decision on Wednesday.

The iPads will be preloaded with material currently provided to student-athletes in paper or book form. About 500 iPads will be provided to select teams this fall, with the goal to give one to all 1,100 student-athletes within the next two years.

The athletic department will fund the initial phase while looking for support through development opportunities. The iPads will be loaned to the athletes to maximize their study time, help them to participate in interactive and online education apps and make use of other digital downloads and books.

 

Former Buckeye RB

signs with Bengals

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Bengals have signed running back Daniel Herron from Ohio State, their sixth-round pick in the draft.

Herron was the Buckeyes’ MVP and served as a captain last season. He joins a crowded group of running backs trying to take over for Cedric Benson, who left as a free agent.

With Herron’s signing, the Bengals have seven of their 10 draft picks under contract, including top pick Dre Kirkpatrick, a cornerback from Alabama. Wisconsin guard Kevin Zeitler is the highest unsigned pick — the Bengals got him later in the first round.

 

NBA suspends Heat’s

Haslem, Pittman

MIAMI (AP) — Heat forward Udonis Haslem has been suspended by the NBA for Game 6 of the Miami-Indiana series.

Haslem committed a flagrant foul against Indiana’s Tyler Hansbrough during the second quarter of Game 5 on Tuesday night, shortly after Hansbrough struck Miami’s Dwyane Wade and opened a cut over his right eye.

Haslem and Hansbrough were both assessed flagrant-1 fouls on the respective plays. If they were issued flagrant-2 fouls, they would have been ejected. Hansbrough’s foul was upgraded Wednesday to a flagrant-2, but he’s eligible to play in Game 6, while Haslem cannot.

Also Wednesday, Miami reserve forward Dexter Pittman was suspended three games for his flagrant foul against Indiana’s Lance Stephenson late in Game 5. Pittman has played only six minutes in the playoffs.

 

James leads NBA’s

all-defensive team

NEW YORK (AP) — NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James is the leading vote-getter for the league’s all-defensive team.

Thunder forward Serge Ibaka, Clippers guard Chris Paul, Grizzlies guard Tony Allen and Magic center Dwight Howard join the Heat star on the first team announced Wednesday.

Ibaka and Allen earned first-team honors for the first time.

James totaled 53 points, including 24 first-team votes. He averaged 1.9 steals and 7.9 rebounds as Miami ranked fourth in the league in opponent scoring.

The NBA’s 30 head coaches vote on the all-defensive team by position. They’re not allowed to pick their own players.