Los Angeles Clippers forwards Elton Brand and Corey Maggette opted out of their contracts, the team announced Monday night.

Brand had a $16.4 million player option and Maggette?s was for $8.4 million for next season, which both passed on just prior to Tuesday?s free agent deadline.

The duo cannot officially sign with another team or re-sign with the Clippers until July 9, when the league?s moratorium ends.

?We have been notified by Elton Brand and Corey Maggette of each player?s decision to opt out of his respective contract,? Los Angeles president Andy Roeser said. ?On Monday night, when NBA rules permit, we will be aggressive in contacting them to address our interest in having them remain with the Clippers.

?We will also be active in contacting other free agents in whom we have interest.?

The Clippers are coming off two straight losing seasons - including an injury-riddled 23-59 finish last campaign - after their first playoff appearance in nine years in 2005-06.

Maggette was one of the team?s lone bright spots last season, scoring a career-high 22.1 points per game. Brand, on the other hand, played just eight games after suffering an Achilles injury in a preseason workout.

The simplest answer is no. No city has hosted the current owner of Vince Lombardi Trophy (National Football League), Larry O’Brien/Walter A. Brown Trophy (National Basketball Association), World Series Trophy (Major League Baseball) and Stanley Cup (National Hockey League) in the same year. The closest any city has come so far is 1988 when the Raiders, Lakers, and Dodgers all brought championships to Los Angeles. Six other times, a city has hosted two out of four champions:

• 1956: New York Giants (NFL) and New York Yankees (MLB)
• 1971: Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) and Pittsburgh Pirates (MLB)
• 1976: Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) and Pittsburgh Pirates (MLB)
• 1999: Dallas Cowboys (NFL) and Dallas Stars (NHL)
• 2001: Denver Broncos (NFL) and Colorado Avalanche (NHL)
• 2002: Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) and Anaheim Angels (MLB)
• 2004: New England Patriots (NFL) and Boston Red Sox (MLB)

Students of sports history, however, are aware that these four trophies have not always represented “the” major leagues. There are the defunct competing major leagues such as the pre-merger American Football League or the World Hockey Association to consider. Also, the NBA was not always the major league in basketball, and other leagues have a good claim to being “the” major league for basketball at various times. Finally, we should at least consider the champions of the Canadian Football League considering the number of NHL teams from that country.

Broadening the definition like this adds relatively few cities to our list. Twice in the late 20’s three of four major league champions were from New York: the Giants, Yankees and Brooklyn Celtics in 1927, and the Yankees, Rangers and Brooklyn Celtics in 1928. The Brooklyn Celtics played in the American Basketball League, at a time when the NBA did not yet exist.

Other two-champion cities considering these competing and defunct major leagues are:

• 1930: Montreal Canadiens (NHL) and Montreal AAA (CFL)
• 1932: Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL) and Toronto Argonauts (CFL)
• 1942: Toronto Maple Leafs (NFL) and Toronto RCAF Hurricanes (CFL)
• 1944: Montreal Canadiens (NHL) and Toronto HMCS Donnacona
• 1947: Chicago Cardinals (NFL) and Chicago American Gears (NBL)
• 1947: Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL) and Toronto Argonauts (CFL)
• 1948: Cleveland Indians (MLB) and Cleveland Browns (AAFC)
• 1977: Montreal Canadiens(MHL) and Montreal Alouettes (CFL)
• 1987: Edmonton Oilers (NHL) and Edmonton Eskimos (CFL) Notes:
  • The Toronto RCAF Hurricanes and Montreal HMCS Donnacona were football teams from various armed forces bases which competed for the Grey Cup during WWII.
  • The Chicago American Gears were in the National Basketball League. The NBL merged with the Basketball Association of America (BAA) in 1949 to form the current NBA.
  • The Cleveland Browns started their history in the All-America Football Conference. The AAFC competed with the NFL for four years. In 1949 the AAFC partially merged into the NFL, the Cleveland Browns won the NFL championship the next year.

So while no city has completed what might be a “GrandSlam” of major league team sports, New York (twice) and Los Angeles (once) came close.

Matthew Craver has been a professional writer for the last 11 years working in a variety of fields.

Spanish rookie Pablo Larrazabal held his nerve in stunning style Sunday to claim a sensational four-stroke victory at the French Open.

Starting the day three shots clear of the field, the 25-year-old Larrazabal carded a 4-under-par 67 to finish with an overall score of 15-under 269, well ahead of runner-up Colin Montgomerie.

Larrazabal never looked back after holing a testing 12-footer for par on the opening green.

Larrazabal, who five years ago caddied for brother Alejandro at The Masters, only secured his entry for this week?s tournament at a local qualifying event.

However, he led from the first round at Le Golf National and secured a huge winner?s prize of $1.05 million that now sends him soaring into contention for September?s Ryder Cup.

Dane Soren Hansen finished one behind Montgomerie in third at 10-under, with Australian Richard Green two shots further back in fourth.

Lee Westwood had to settle for a share of fifth with Austrian Marcus Brier after a closing 71.

Anaheim Ducks - Acquired a 2008 third-round pick from the Minnesota Wild for defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron.

Atlanta Thrashers - None.

Boston Bruins - Acquired left wing Matt Marquardt from the Columbus Blue Jackets for defenseman Jonathan Sigalet; acquired defenseman Johnny Boychuk from the Colorado Avalanche for center Matt Hendricks.

Buffalo Sabres - None.

Calgary Flames - Acquired center Michael Cammalleri and a 2008 second-round pick from the Los Angeles Kings for a 2008 first-round pick and a 2009 second-round pick; acquired a 2008 first-round pick and a 2009 second-round pick from the Montreal Canadiens for left wing Alex Tanguay and a 2008 fifth-round pick.

Carolina Hurricanes - Acquired the rights to left wing Darcy Hordichuk from the Nashville Predators for a 2009 fifth-round pick.

Chicago Blackhawks - None.

Colorado Avalanche - Acquired center Marty Sertich from the Dallas Stars for a 2009 conditional pick; acquired a 2008 second-round pick from the Los Angeles Kings for right wing Brad Richardson; aquired center Matt Hendricks from the Boston Bruins for defenseman Johnny Boychuk.

Columbus Blue Jackets - Acquired defenseman Jonathan Sigalet from the Boston Bruins for left wing Matt Marquardt; acquired center R.J. Umberger and a 2008 fourth-round pick from the Philadelphia Flyers for 2008 first- and third-round picks.

Dallas Stars - Acquired a 2009 conditional pick from the Colorado Avalanche for center Marty Sertich.

Detroit Red Wings - None.

Edmonton Oilers - Acquired center Ryan Potulny from the Philadelphia Flyers for defenseman Danny Syvret.

Florida Panthers - Acquired defensemen Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton and a 2008 second-round pick from the Phoenix Coyotes for center Olli Jokinen.

Los Angeles Kings - Acquired a 2009 fifth-round pick from the St. Louis Blues for defenseman T.J. Fast; acquired a 2008 first-round pick and a 2009 second-round pick from the Calgary Flames for center Michael Cammalleri and a 2008 second-round pick; acquired right wing Brad Richardson from the Colorado Avalanche for a 2008 second-round pick.

Minnesota Wild - Acquired defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron from the Anaheim Ducks for a 2008 third-round pick.

Montreal Canadiens - Acquired left wing Alex Tanguay and a 2008 fifth-round pick from the Calgary Flames for a 2008 first-round pick and a 2009 second-round pick.

Nashville Predators - Acquired a 2009 fifth-round pick from the Carolina Hurricanes for the rights to left wing Darcy Hordichuk; acquired a 2008 fourth-round pick from the St. Louis Blues for goaltender Chris Mason; acquired left wing Triston Grant and a 2009 seventh-round pick from the Philadelphia Flyers for defenseman Janne Niskala.

New Jersey Devils - None.

New York Islanders - None.

New York Rangers - Acquired a 2008 third-round pick from the Phoenix Coyotes for right wing Alex Bourret.

Ottawa Senators - Acquired a 2009 fifth-round pick from the Phoenix Coyotes for right wing Brian McGrattan.

Philadelphia Flyers - Acquired defenseman Danny Syvret from the Edmonton Oilers for center Ryan Potulny; acquired a 2008 seventh-round pick and a 2009 conditional fourth-round pick from the Tampa Bay Lightning for the rights to left wing Vaclav Prospal; acquired 2008 first- and third-round picks from the Columbus Blue Jackets for center R.J. Umberger and a 2008 fourth-round pick; acquired defenseman Steve Eminger and a 2008 third-round pick from the Washington Capitals for a 2008 first-round pick; acquired defenseman Janne Niskala from the Nashville Predators for left wing Triston Grant and a 2009 seventh-round pick.

Phoenix Coyotes - Acquired center Olli Jokinen from the Florida Panthers for defensemen Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton and a 2008 second-round pick; acquired right wing Alex Bourret from the New York Rangers for a 2008 third-round pick; acquired right wing Brian McGrattan from the Ottawa Senators for a 2009 fifth-round pick.

Pittsburgh Penguins - None.

St. Louis Blues - Acquired defenseman T.J. Fast from the Los Angeles Kings for a 2009 fifth-round pick; acquired a 2008 third-round pick from the Toronto Maple Leafs for right wing Jamal Mayers; acquired goaltender Chris Mason from the Nashville Predators for a 2008 fourth-round pick.

San Jose Sharks - None.

Tampa Bay Lightning - Acquired the rights to left wing Vaclav Prospal from the Philadelphia Flyers for a 2008 seventh-round pick and a 2009 conditional fourth-round pick.

Toronto Maple Leafs - Acquired right wing Jamal Mayers from the St. Louis Blues for a 2008 third-round pick.

Vancouver Canucks - Claimed center Kyle Wellwood off waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Washington Capitals - Acquired a 2008 first-round pick from the Philadelphia Flyers for defenseman Steve Eminger and a 2008 third-round pick.

After on-and-off again negotiations, the Indiana Pacers have agreed in principle to send six-time All-Star Jermaine O?Neal to the Toronto Raptors for point guard T.J. Ford and the 17th pick in Thursday?s NBA draft, a league executive said Wednesday.

After nearly completing the deal earlier in the week, Pacers and Raptors officials needed to exchange more medical information on O?Neal?s left knee and Ford?s neck before finding a comfort level with the trade. It is believed both sides now are comfortable making the deal, though the trade won?t be complete until both O?Neal and Ford pass their physicals.

Toronto also will send Rasho Nesterovic and another role player to match up with O?Neal?s salary. O?Neal is owed $44 million over the next two seasons. He played just 42 games for Indiana a year ago with a left knee injury. O?Neal has expressed a desire to leave the Pacers for a contender.

Ford, who has a history of neck injuries, became expendable when Toronto GM Bryan Colangelo decided that he wanted to make Jose Calderon the franchise?s future at point guard.

Ford was diagnosed with spinal stenosis, a condition that narrows the openings the spinal cord runs through. He missed the 2004-05 season with the Bucks following neck surgery, and missed 13 games with a neck injury last season after Atlanta?s Al Horford leveled him on a breakaway layup. Ford has $25 million and two years left on his contract. Indiana had been searching for a point guard and Ford takes the job now.

Calderon is a restricted free agent, and Colangelo has insisted that he?ll match any offer for him. Clearly, the Raptors will belong to him now.

The Pacers would now hold the 11th and 17th picks in the draft.