I like movies. Even bad ones. There’s something special about going to the movie theater, settling in, and seeing if someone who has spent a hundred million dollars can entertain an audience.

In the late 1990s, the Regal Cinemas movie chain made an interesting offer. It created the “Regalator.” It was a 32-ounce soda cup. Price: $20. No human needs that much soda, but a deal is a deal. Customers who bought the cup got a lifetime supply of $1 refills.

I own two of them.

I’m not even sure I like soda. I barely drink it anymore. But I feel like I’m winning when I proudly present the cup at the concession counter. Regal stopped selling them in 2001. Over the years, the chain switched from Pepsi products to Coca-Cola, then back to Pepsi again.

If you bring one of the old Coke-themed cups, they’ll summon the manager. He/she will then take the “Regalator” to the back (presumably to the vault) and swap it for a new Pepsi-themed cup. I nearly asked for an escrow company to be involved when this recently happened to me.

In the last decade, I’ve only seen one other customer with a “Regalator” cup. It was Trail Blazers’ public-address announcer Mark Mason. He happened to be in front of me in line at the theater concession stand a couple of years ago. We fist bumped over the good deal we were enjoying.

Then, Mason told me a tragic story.

Apparently, he also used to own two “Regalators.” His daughter and some friends were going to the movies, so he loaned one of them to her. He’s a good dad. She filled it up, drank the soda during the film, and then — brace yourself — accidentally left the cup in the theater where it was thrown away by employees.

Most painful loss in Blazers’ history?

Discuss.

I’m having a lot of fun with this new writing endeavor. Many of you have written to tell me that you’ve noticed. If you’re a paid subscriber, thank you. If you’re not, consider subscribing so you don’t miss a thing.

Every week I pick the Pac-12 football games. I’ve been on fire lately. I’m hoping to keep that going.

My Week 9 record vs. the spread: 5-0

Week 9 record, straight-up: 5-0

Record vs. the spread this season: 37-26 (.587)

Straight-up season record: 48-15 (.762)

My Week 10 picks…