TOP OF THE MORNIN'

Life after winning it all? No rest for Self

You might think that after the blur that has been Kansas coach Bill Self’s life the past few months, he would find time to unwind and reboot the computer, so to speak.

Not the case.

“To be honest, I’m just as busy now as I’ve ever been, maybe even more,” Self said by phone. “This is the time to recruit. And we have to recruit because we lost so many players.

“Then you look at my office — I got more boxes in that office now than the day I took the job. I need to get to all of that.

“But you know what? I’m not complaining. This isn’t stress. This is just busy. A good busy.”

Self has had some relaxing moments. He recently played a round of golf as one of the celebrities in the EDS Byron Nelson Championship Celebrity-Am outside Dallas — amateurs paid more than $7,000 to play with celebs like Self.

Former Dallas Cowboys players Roger Staubach and Ed “Too Tall” Jones were also there.

“I had a great time doing that,” Self said. “That was a blast. I played terrible but it was a blast.”

Self also snuck in a round recently at the Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles with prominent KU boosters.

“But you know, that was just one afternoon,” he said. “And I was recruiting all morning.”

So much for resting on his laurels. No time to set sail on a cruise or even plop himself on the couch for a couple of days. It’s all about recruiting.

“Well, now’s the time to strike,” he said. “And everyone has a different way of relaxing. Relaxing for me would be just spending a few hours in my office, catching up.

“That would make me feel good.”

Nick’s engaged

Former Chiefs kicker Nick Lowery is booting his life of bachelorhood. Lowery, 51, recently got engaged to Phoebe Chongchua, a former San Diego television anchor who is now an author and motivational speaker.

Lowery, who lives in Phoenix, and Chongchua, who lives in San Diego, actually met in Kansas City in the lobby of the Westin Crown Center. She was in town for a conference, and Lowery was here for a charity event.

It has been a six-month whirlwind romance.

“I’ve never been engaged before, never proposed before,” Lowery said. “But in this case, when you know it, you know it. She’s fantastic and I consider myself very lucky.”

One suggestion

Let me start by saying that I’ve always admired Mark Grudzielanek’s approach to the game. The man plays hard and he reminds his teammates to do the same.

But maybe it’s time Trey Hillman shook up the batting order, as in spicing up the No. 2 hole with someone like Alex Gordon or Mark Teahen, each of whom can run a little.

Just a thought, Trey.

To reach Jeffrey Flanagan, call 816-234-4492 and leave a message or send e-mail to jflanagan@kcstar.com