Wilkinson mulling future prospects

PARIS — Former England flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson will decide on his career future in February, saying he will continue playing only if he feels it will benefit his club.

The 33-year-old retired from international rugby after last year's World Cup having won 91 caps for England and the British and Irish Lions. He has helped Toulon to first place in France's Top 14 this season. His contract expires at the end of the season.

"I'm capable of carrying on, but it's a delicate balance," Wilkinson said in an interview on Wednesday with sports daily L'Equipe. "The question isn't what I would like to do, but what is best for my team. After I've asked myself that question, then I'll think about myself."

Wilkinson is confident Toulon can win the Heineken Cup this season.

"Can we do the double? I say, yes," Wilkinson said. "I'm never satisfied, but I'm happy with how we've played. We're heading in the right direction."

View the original article here

'King Kazu' mulling Futsal World Cup invitation

Kazuyoshi Miura could finally realize his dream of playing in a World Cup — the Futsal World Cup, that is.

Miura, the oldest player ever in the J. League at 45 currently with Yokohama FC of the second division, has been asked to play for Japan at the Nov. 1-18 Futsal World Cup in Thailand, Japan Football Association president Kuniya Daini said on Monday.

According to Daini, Miura is leaning toward accepting the offer provided that he remains fit. Yokohama is ninth in J2 with 10 games left in the season, and Miura has appeared in only 14 of the club's 32 matches with one goal to show for.

"I've been told he's up for it," Daini said. "It will come down to his physical condition and the circumstances of his club."

Miura, arguably the most popular player in Japanese soccer history, helped Japan qualify for its first World Cup in 1998 but failed to make the cut for Takeshi Okada's final squad.

Harboring World Cup dreams, Miura had dropped out of high school to become a professional in Brazil, returning in time to help launch the J. League in 1993.

He made his futsal debut for Espolada Hokkaido in the Japanese F-League in January, playing one game. Japan is the Asian champion in futsal.

View the original article here

Wedge mulling where to bat Ichiro

Dallas — Seattle Mariners manager Eric Wedge says he's still figuring out where to bat longtime leadoff man Ichiro Suzuki.

The 38-year-old Ichiro is coming off a season in which he hit .272 with a .310 on-base percentage, by far the lowest marks in his 11-year career with the Mariners.

Ichiro has hit exclusively in the leadoff spot for several years. Wedge says he's met with the All-Star outfielder twice in the offseason.

"I'm going to put out the best nine in the right order, in the order that I see fit to score as many runs as we can," Wedge said Tuesday at the winter meetings. "And if I feel like that's him leading off, then that's what we're going to do. If I feel like that's him hitting the 3-hole, that's what I'm going to do. If I feel like that's him hitting somewhere else, that's what we're going to do."

View the original article here