Travolta & Roller Coasters

I arrived at the Mos Eisley Cantina a half and hour before the Giants-Diamondbacks game on Monday night only to find the bar empty with only the Colonel and Boz occupying the place. I walked up, sat down, exchange pleasantries, and immediately noticed the guys were watching the movie "Swordfish" on AMC instead of the pregame on CSN Bay Area.

"Why are you guys watching this?" I ask curiously.

"Because we're both fascinated with post-Pulp Fiction John Travolta," replies the Colonel.

"Look at some of the movies he played in post Pulp Fiction," says Boz. "There's Broken Arrow, Face/Off, The General's Daughter, and Swordfish. Some interesting choices."

"You know what," I say. "Those movies may not be Oscar worthy, but you can't say they aren't entertaining."

"Also half of those movies Travolta plays the bad guy," says the Colonel. "I don't know why, but I always found Travolta playing a bad guy humorous. The guy played Danny in Grease and movie studios are expecting us to buy Travolta as a bad guy? I think it's one big joke and Travolta is in on it. He's been punking us before Ashton starting banging Demi."


"I personally think after Pulp Fiction, Travolta realized he could play any character he wanted and still get other roles unlike the 80's," I say. "Also what about his hair choices in a couple of those movies. His hair and weird landing strip facial hair in Swordfish.

"What about his southern accent in The General's Daughter?" asks Boz. "His southern accent in the beginning of The General's Daughter is downright offensive."

And that's what I love about the people at the Mos Eisley Cantina, the conversations. Conversations about John Travolta's hair in movies is just something you can't discuss at work. Especially if you work with older people like in my case. Everyone should find their own Mos Eisley Cantina.

The roller coaster known as the San Francisco Giants keep taking us down every twist and turn on the ride. The Giants are back home after a somewhat successful trip from the east coast. They visited the President, took 2 out of 3 in Philly, and they imploded in Cincinnati. The Giants return home to play the Diamondbacks who are in 2nd place and looking to take over the NL West lead during this series. So yeah this is kind of an important time for the Giants.

The Giants also placed Barry Zito on the DL again with a "foot problem". I put foot problem in parenthesis, because I believe along with everyone else at the bar that Zito isn't really hurt. Jonathon Sanchez is due to come off the DL and the Giants are placing Zito on the DL for they can decide what to do with him.

"I think the Giants have no idea what the hell to do with Zito," says the Colonel. "I don't believe they'll place Zito on waivers because they don't want to eat the rest of his contract. I think they'll make him a spot starter or a long relief kind of guy."

"I dunno," I reply. "I used to think the same thing. I also used to think Zito could turn into Jamie Moyer until I realized that Moyer actually knows what the strikezone is. I think the Giants will see how well Sanchez pitches in a couple of starts and if he sucks, they'll do some sort of flip flop with Sanchez and Zito rotating starts and whoever is the best will get a playoff spot."

"Are you confident in either guy?" ask the Colonel. "Sanchez gives up too many walks and frustrated everyone. Then you have Zito who gives up home runs like candy on Halloween. I'm not confident in either guy."

"I hear ya," I say. "I'm not confident in either guy as well, but I much rather have Sanchez pitching instead of Zito. Sanchez may have command issues like Zito, but he can still strike people out unlike Zito. Also Sanchez can actually pitch out of the stretch unlike Zito."

I'll say this about both pitchers, they drive fans/coaches/newspersons crazy. They're both really good at that.

*****

The bar filled up on the Monday night around the 7o'clock hour. I had to get to work a little bit earlier on Tuesday so I left early. The Colonel texted me that we forgot to talk about the time he met John Travolta while Travolta was filming "Phenomenon".

Just another night at the Mos Eisley Cantina.