SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Syracuse fired football coach Paul Pasqualoni eight days after a 37-point loss in a bowl game - and less than a month after giving him a vote of confidence.

Pasqualoni, who was unavailable for comment, departs after 14 years with a 107-59-1 record and a 6-3 mark in bowl games. He is the second-winningest coach in school history, behind Ben Schwartzwalder, who had 153 victories.

But the Orange struggled to break even after going 10-3 and finishing ranked No. 14 in 2001. They were 4-8 in 2002, Pasqualoni's only losing season, and 6-6 the last two years.

Gross, a former assistant at Southern California who was hired only two weeks ago to replace the retiring Jake Crouthamel, cited several factors for his decision, including declining attendance and the team's inconsistent play.

LOS ANGELES - Football coach Mack Brown and Texas agreed to a 10-year contract worth more than $25 million that would keep him at the university through 2014.The contract, which still needs approval from the school's board of regents, would boost Brown's $2.06 million annual salary by $100,000 in the first year, with additional $100,000 raises each year. He'd earn a little more than $3 million in 2014.

Cleveland's LeBron James forward got flattened by an elbow from Houston's Dikembe Mutombo in the first half and the Rockets went on to a 98-87 win over the Cavaliers.James bruised a bone near his left eye. He was moving across the lane when he was accidentally leveled by Mutombo, whose elbows have dropped more than a few NBA players over the years.James was taken to the Cleveland Clinic for X-rays and a CAT scan. He was not available for comment after returning from the hospital. The team said it will have test results and an update on his condition Thursday.

NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans Hornets suspended Jim Jackson indefinitely for not reporting to the team, two days after he was acquired from Houston in a trade.Jackson, who plays guard and forward, was acquired from the Rockets along with forward Bostjan Nachbar for guard David Wesley.

SALISBURY, Md. - Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps was sentenced to 18 months' probation after pleading guilty to drunken driving.Judge Lloyd O. Whitehead granted Phelps probation before judgment, meaning his record will be expunged if he follows the terms of probation. Phelps pleaded guilty to driving while impaired, and prosecutors dropped charges of driving under the influence, underage drinking and failure to stop at a stop sign.The 19-year-old Phelps was fined $250, must attend a meeting sponsored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and must give speeches to students at three schools by June 1, advising them about making choices and warning them about the dangers of alcohol.

NEW YORK - Free agent Jaret Wright and the New York Yankees finalized a $21 million, three-year contract, announcing the deal on the pitcher's 29th birthday.Wright was 15-8 with a 3.28 ERA for Atlanta last season, then lost both of his starts in the first round of the playoffs against Houston. The right-hander is 52-45 with a 5.09 ERA in a career that began in 1997 with Cleveland and nearly ended because of shoulder trouble.