Off the wire

LITTLE ROCK — FOOTBALL No new trial for Sandusky

Jerry Sandusky lost a bid for a new trial Wednesday when a judge rejected his argument that his lawyers were not given enough time to prepare for the three-week proceeding that ended with a 45-count guilty verdict on child sex abuse charges. Judge John Cleland’s 27-page order said lawyers for the former Penn State assistant football coach conceded that their post-trial review turned up no material that would have changed their trial strategy. “I do not think it can be said that either of the defendant’s trial counsel failed to test the prosecution’s case in a meaningful manner,” Cleland wrote. “The defendant’s attorneys subjected the commonwealth’s witnesses to meaningful and effective cross-examination, presented evidence for the defense and presented both a comprehensive opening statement and a clearly developed closing argument.” He also rejectedpost-sentencing motions regarding jury instructions, hearsay testimony and a comment by the prosecution during closing arguments that referred to the fact that Sandusky, who did not testify at trial, gave media interviews after he was arrested in November 2011.

BASKETBALL Rudy Gay headed to Toronto

Rudy Gay is on his way to Toronto in the latest and most dramatic move in the Memphis Grizzlies makeover, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. The Grizzlies agreed to trade their star swingman to the Raptors on Wednesday, parting with the leading scorer on a team that has aspirations of making a run in the NBA Western Conference. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal had not yet been announced. The Raptors gave up point guard Jose Calderon and forward Ed Davis in the deal, and another person familiar with the negotiations said the Grizzlies were in discussion with the Detroit Pistons to swap Calderon for Austin Daye and Tayshaun Prince. Gay, averaging 17.2 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, signed a five-year, $82 million maximum contract in July 2010 with Memphis. The 6-8 small forward is due $16.5 million this season with $37 million more over the next two years.

BASEBALL Angels, Jepsen avoid arbitration

The Los Angeles Angels and reliever Kevin Jepsen have agreed to a one-year contract worth $1,181,250, avoiding arbitration with the hardthrowing right-hander. Jepsen went 3-2 with a 3.02 ERA last year, returning to an important role in the Angels’ bullpen after missing much of the 2011 season with a knee injury. He has been a steady presence in LosAngeles’ bullpen for the past four seasons. Jepsen asked for $1.4 million in arbitration and was offered $975,000. He made $501,000 in 2012.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have finalized their $5 million, two-year contract with shortstop Cliff Pennington. Pennington was acquired by the Diamondbacks from Oakland in October as part of a three-team trade that sent center fielder Chris Young to the Atheltics and reliever Heath Bell from Miami to Arizona.

The Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to terms with infielder Andy LaRoche on a minor league contract that includes an invitation to spring training. LaRoche appeared in 96 games for the Class AAA teams of the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox last season, batting.251 with 20 doubles, 12 home runs and 41 RBI.

Chase Headley and the San Diego Padres have avoided salary arbitration, agreeing on an $8,575,000, one-year contract that gives the third baseman a $5.1 million raise following his huge 2012 season. Long touted as a future star, the 28-yearold Headley broke out with 31 home runs and a National League-best 115 RBI last season, when he made $3,475,000. The switch-hitter batted .286 with a .376 on-base percentage and finished fifth in MVP voting while winning a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger award.

Shawn Kelley and the Seattle Mariners have agreed to a $935,000, one-year contract that avoids salary arbitration. Kelley gets a raise from $610,000 last season, when the righthanded reliever went 2-4 with a 3.25 ERA in 47 appearances. He had asked for $1.2 million this year and was offered $750,000 by the Mariners.

TENNIS Nadal’s knee still troublesome

One week before his expected return to tennis, Rafael Nadal said his left knee still hurts. The 26-yearold Spaniard is scheduled to play next week in Chile before heading to tournaments in Brazil and Mexico. Speaking Wednesday on the island of Mallorca, Nadal said that although his knee is better, “sometimes it still hurts ... but I have to start sooner or later.” Nadal said he is “fine, enthusiastic,” after not playing since losing to Lukas Rosol in the second round at Wimbledon last summer.

Fifth-seeded Roberta Vinci was eliminated from the Open GDF Suez in Paris on Wednesday, losing to Mona Barthel of Germany 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 in the second round.Vinci struggled in the second set, dropping two of her service games, before Barthel immediately earned a break against the Italian to start the third. Vinci, who is ranked 16th, broke back but the 45th-ranked Barthel earned two more breaks to take the match. Barthel will meet third-seeded Marion Bartoli in the quarterfinals after the Frenchwoman fought back from four set-points down to defeat American Christina McHale 7-5, 6-1.

FOOTBALLDr. Phil: Irish linebacker was victim

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Dr. Phil McGraw said RonaiahTuiasosopo, who masterminded the dead girlfriend hoax involving Manti Te’o, told him the Notre Dame linebacker was not involved in the scheme and that he ended up falling “deeply, romantically” in love with the football player.

McGraw spoke on the Today show Wednesday,previewing an interview he did with Tuiasosopo, a 22-year-old California man who created the fictional woman Te’o knew as Lennay Kekua. Tuiasosopo’s interview with McGraw will air in two parts on the Dr. Phil Show starting today.

Since the hoax was revealed earlier this month, Te’o has said the relationship with Kekua started online and eventually became serious, even though the two only talked on the phone and exchanged electronic messages, never meeting in person. Te’o said he was told of Kekua’s “death” from leukemia just hours after his grandmother died inSeptember.

McGraw said Tuiasosopo toldhim the voice of Kekua was his. Tuiasosopo and Te’o have said that while the Kekua relationship went on for several years, there were times when they weren’t in contact.

“There were many times where Manti and Lennay had broken up, but something would bring them back together,whether it was something going on in his life, or in Lennay’s life, in this case in my life,” Tuiasosopo said.

Tuiasosopo said he wanted to end the relationship between Kekua and Te’o before he had to fake Kekua’s death.

“I wanted to end it because everything I had gone through, I finally realized that I just had to move on with my life and I had to get me, Ronaiah, I had to start just living and let this go,” Tuiasosopo said.

Te’o’s publicist, Matthew Hiltzik, declined comment on behalf of Te’o and his family.