Sports News Roundup: Dr. Phil says Te’o was victim of girlfriend hoax

Associated Press Dr. Phil McGraw says Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, 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 never met in person. Te’o said he was told of Kekua’s “death” from leukemia just hours after his grandmother died in September. McGraw said Tuiasosopo told him the voice of Kekua was his. McGraw says “absolutely, unequivocally” Te’o had no role in creating the hoax, but that Tuiasosopo had feelings for Te’o. “Here we have a young man that fell deeply, romantically in love,” McGraw said. McGraw said he asked Tuiasosopo if he is gay. “He said, ‘Well, when you put it that way, yes.’ Then he caught himself and said, ‘I am confused,’ ” McGraw said.