By Doug Tucker
AP Sports Writer

RIVER FALLS, Wis. -- Tony Gonzalez lives a life to die for.

In the past 12 months alone, Kansas City's handsome tight end has scaled the highest peak in his profession, drawing comparisons with the all-time greats. He has banked millions of dollars.

As the subject of a photo shoot for Sports Illustrated's swimsuit edition, he frolicked on the beach with some of the world's most gorgeous models.

He held his newborn son in his arms and tenderly kissed him.

There's probably more. But isn't that enough? How many blessings can one man stand?

Well, a supplemental career in the NBA would be nice, thank you very much. Muscle up against Glenn Robinson. Battle Shaq.

Realize just one more childhood dream.

''I grew up playing basketball. I love playing basketball,'' said the two-time All-Pro. ''If the opportunity's there, I'm going to take advantage of it.''

A standout basketball player at Cal, Gonzalez, 25, spends his off-season playing in a California summer league, butting heads with some of the best amateurs in the state and often going one-on-one with NBA starters.

This summer, he attracted more attention than usual.

''I was doing my normal routine, getting ready for the season,'' Gonzalez said. ''Then some scouts, some of the pro players were coming up to me and saying, 'Hey, man, you should give this a shot.'''

There is no denying his love of the sport. He's as proud of the 23 points he scored in an NCAA tournament victory over Villanova as he is of being the first tight end in NFL history with six 100-yard receiving games in a single season.

In fact, last year in his fourth season, Gonzalez went a long way toward establishing himself as the finest tight end of his era. Without benefit of a reliable rushing game to take pressure off the passer, he caught 93 balls for 1,203 yards -- the fourth-highest total for a tight end in NFL history.

Former All-Pro quarterback Warren Moon has said he has a chance to be the greatest tight end of all time.

No wonder so many of his friends and relatives were horrified when he started talking about giving the NBA a serious try.

''A lot of people say, 'Why are you doing this? You can get hurt. You're a great football player. Why would you want to jeopardize the future?'

''I say it's like a dream of mine.''

But he also knows the odds would be long. Standing 6 feet 4 inches on a football field, he's tall. That same height amid a forest of NBA veterans might make a non-guard feel short. And just imagine the mental and physical drain of playing both football and basketball at the highest level.

''I'm realistic about it. It's highly unlikely it will happen,'' Gonzalez said. ''But hey, if it does, I'm going to be there and I'm going to try to take advantage of it.''

In the meantime, he's happy concentrating on getting to know a new quarterback and a new coaching staff, headed by Dick Vermeil. To make full use of his speed and basketball-like quickness and footwork, the Chiefs are planning to split him out wide in certain formations. The idea excites him.

''Right now this is football season. I'm strictly into football,'' he said. ''This is something I love doing. It's my livelihood and my bread-and-butter. So I've got to keep doing it as well as I can.''

But basketball is never far from his mind. When asked about his informal workout this summer with the Los Angeles Lakers, a gleam comes into his eye.

''We went out there to the Lakers' facility in El Segundo,'' he said.