You'd think Troy Bell would have been in a lot of pain: Sitting around for two hours at an award show that wasn't going to award him one darn thing (because he was nominated in the same category as Jason Williams), and listening to surprise presenter Bill Walton coo about "fluid spatial relationships," and being "tethered to the center," (get a grip), and patiently standing by as the winners co-opted eachother's speeches ("I wouldn't be here without my teammates, it's been an incredible ride, this is truly an honor because there are so many great players here, blah, blah, blah" ).

Afterward, the players were knobbing and hobbing at the postgame reception with various dolled-up to-do types (one of whom passionately observes that Minnesota's uniforms are a lot like Boston College's uniforms. Uh-huh.). But Troy, surprisingly, seemed to be doing alright: Minny is home, and he hadn't been back since June, and so, well, he was just happy to be here, you know?

Actually, the lot of these crazy kids were too. Oh, sure, most of them got a little fidgety in their seats during the commercial breaks (co-Irish center of the years Troy Murphy and Ruth Riley took turns keeping eachother entertained, pointing and giggling at the Minnesota dance team) and they assuredly could have done without the postgame festivities (though none of them took a pass at the open bar).

But it was kind of a cool thing to be nominated as one the best of the best, and to sit and mess around with your "enemies," (whom, of course, aren't really your enemies -- they were once your AAU teammate, or you played on the national team together, or whatever). You should have seen the collection of talent huddling in the stairway outside the postgame reception room. There was Michelle Snow and Chantelle Anderson, who took one pass through the buffet and bolted with a plate of prime rib and shrimp cocktail higher than Eugene Edgerson's afro (the new cultural reference point du jour).

There was Schuye LaRue, who helped Troy contemplate one reporter's most deep, probing question: What's one fashion trend that's got to go? (Their collective answer: capri pants). And there was Jarron Collins, desperately trying not to get too sucked into the ladies' impromptu roundtable discussion about their worst breakup ever (wise man, that Stanford guy). Nope, this wasn't so bad, after all.

Actually, Troy did have one painful moment. For probably the 4,357th time since BC got bounced in the Dance, he was fronted with "are you coming back to school next year?" question. And for probably the 4357th time, Troy winced just a little bit before conjuring up the the standard-issue "no doubt about it," answer. Good news, Eagles fans? Hard to say. There was one of those knowing winkety-winks in his eyes. Of course , there's ALWAYS one of those knowing winkety-winks in his eyes. That's Troy Bell. He knows something you don't. He's a little hard to read. He is, as always, just happy to be here.