You can bank on sick David Beckham playing in MLS Cup final

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When midfielder David Beckham was a no-show at the Galaxy’s training session Thursday, it piqued the interest of more than one journalist. And Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena had a ready -- if typically acerbic -- answer for the question.

‘He’s downtown today,’ Arena said ‘I think he’s protesting the banking system in this country.’

That would be unlikely given that Beckham, the highest-paid player in MLS, was estimated by Forbes to have made $40 million last year, making him the wealthiest soccer player in the world.

Actually, Arena finally confessed, Beckham was given the morning off with a cold although members of the team said he is resting a hamstring problem.

Asked by a British journalist whether Beckham would play in Sunday’s MLS Cup final, Arena said: ‘I’d even let you answer that question. He played last year in the playoffs with an Achilles that was freshly operated on. David will be on the field Sunday.’

The banks, after all, will be closed then.

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-- Kevin Baxter