David Beckham promised he will be back in MLS next season - and that he will eventually exercise his option to own one of the league’s teams. “Of course,’’ he said of returning in 2010, after he limped through the Los Angeles Galaxy’s upset loss to Real Salt Lake in the league’s championship match Sunday night. “I’ve said I’ll be back, and I will.’’ It will be his fourth season of a $32.5 million, five-year contract. Beckham took three painkilling injections before the game to dull the ache in his bruised right foot and ankle, but played all 120 minutes, including a 30-minute overtime . . . Soccer supporters in seven international cities will be able to watch the World Cup for free at fan parks. FIFA announced there will be fan parks in Sydney, Berlin, London, Paris, Rome, Mexico City, and Rio de Janeiro. Another 10 sites will be chosen in host cities in South Africa ahead of the tournament in June . . . American businessman Stan Kroenke has bought 10 more Arsenal shares to put him closer to the threshold that forces him to make a takeover bid. The Denver-based businessman owns the Colorado Rapids, Denver Nuggets, and Colorado Avalanche . . . Boston College will host Drake Sunday at 2 p.m. in the third round of the NCAA men’s tournament.

Warriors coach Don Nelson has pneumonia and isn’t traveling with the team for two games in Texas. Nelson, 69, the second-winningest coach in NBA history, missed practice Sunday and again yesterday. The team said he had been diagnosed with pneumonia and would miss Golden State’s games today at Dallas and tomorrow at San Antonio. The Warriors are home again Saturday against the Lakers, but it’s unclear if Nelson will be healthy enough to return to the bench by then. Often times with pneumonia, at least a week’s worth of rest is recommended . . . Tracy McGrady returned to practice with the Rockets for the first time since microfracture surgery in February, but still doesn’t know when he’ll play.

Ken Griffey Jr. stands to earn nearly $4 million from the Mariners next season. According to contract figures obtained by the Associated Press, Griffey’s deal calls for a $2.35 million base salary for 2010. Baseball’s active home run leader would earn $3.9 million if he meets all incentives . . . Omar Vizquel agreed to $1,375,000, one-year contract with the White Sox. The 42-year-old Vizquel is an 11-time Gold Glove winner and has played mostly shortstop during 21 major league seasons. Vizquel hit .266 with one homer and 14 RBIs in 62 games with Texas this past year.

The NHL suspended Canadiens enforcer Georges Laraque five games for a hit on Detroit defenseman Niklas Kronwall. Laraque will lose $38,860 in salary over five games, and will be eligible to return Dec. 4 against the Bruins . . . The Wild traded former first-round draft choice Benoit Pouliot to Montreal for left wing Guillaume Latendresse. Pouliot, 23, has been one of a handful of first-round disappointments for the Wild in recent years after being drafted fourth overall in 2005. Latendresse had two goals and an assist in 23 games for the Canadiens this season.

Rafael Nadal lost to Robin Soderling for the second straight time, falling 6-4, 6-4 in their opening round-robin match at the ATP World Tour Finals in London. The second-ranked Nadal can still advance to the semifinals of the season-ending tournament for the world’s top eight players. Novak Djokovic rallied from a poor start to beat Nikolay Davydenko 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 . . . US Tennis Association tax forms show that former CEO of professional tennis Arlen Kantarian received more than $9 million in total compensation in 2008, his last year running the US Open . . . Francisco Rodriguez, a former national Golden Gloves boxing champion, died Sunday night, two days after collapsing following a bout in Philadelphia. Rodriguez lost a USBA super bantamweight bout against Teon Kennedy Friday night . . . Kimbo Slice will make his official Ultimate Fighting Championship debut Dec. 5 in Las Vegas against an undetermined opponent.