An episode that scores!
Here’s the play-by-play for this episode:
In today’s episode, Matt and Angela sit down with Rick Bryson, one half of the powerhouse team behind Movies with Balls: The Greatest Sports Films of All Time, Analyzed and Illustrated.
Movies with Balls combines fandom, analysis, and nostalgia, featuring unique illustrations of fantasy ticket stubs, memorabilia, and playmaps. It’s perfect for fans who love revisiting classic sports films and uncovering hidden gems—get ready to “play ball” with a whole new perspective!
Movies with Balls was inspired by a simple question: what would the tickets from our favorite sports movies look like? From iconic matchups like Rocky vs. Drago to the 2004 Las Vegas Dodgeball Invitational, the book imagines physical, tangible tickets for legendary events we’d love to experience firsthand, beyond the movie theater or living room couch.
Rick discusses the nostalgic appeal of media artifacts from a bygone era and how this inspired him and co-author Kyle Bandujo to create fantasy tickets—and an entire book filled with them. From kerning and font choices to color design, every detail carries significance.
Much like how many autistic individuals find meaning in patterns, structure, and subtle details, Movies with Balls celebrates the joy of uncovering these small but important elements in the films we love. The attention to detail in the design of the fantasy tickets mirrors the way autistic people often experience the world—finding deep significance in things that others might overlook. Whether it’s the choice of color, font, or layout, these elements become a way to connect with the media on a deeper, more personal level, just as many autistic people connect with the world through the nuances that make up their unique experiences.
Speaking of the little details, Rick shares the careful thought he put into designing each ticket stub, ensuring they had realistic crinkles, wrinkles, and stains—making them look as though they had truly been part of the experience.
Movies with Balls is available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon—get ready to score a copy!
“I think a lot of people just watch the movie and then enjoy the movie and move on. And we [autistic folks] are like, my God, what were the tickets like? What were the chairs like? Were the chairs wider then? Was there more room in the seats? What kind of drinks did they have? Was that original Coke? Did they have Crystal Pepsi at that event? Like we want to know everything, okay. ” - Angela
“These are the teams we love as much as real-life teams. Frankly, we probably love these sports movie teams even more than our real-life teams, because they don’t let us down even postseason.” - Matt
“When a sports movie is done right, nothing can top it. You know, it gives you that big chill moment, makes you want to jump up off the couch and cheer.” - Rick Bryson
“There’s this great line in Seinfeld where I think he’s sitting on a plane and he’s spewing out all this pop culture nonsense to the supermodel and he’s hitting on her. And she’s like, ‘you know a lot about nothing’. And I feel like that’s me and Kyle. We have a database of just worthless stuff that helps us nowhere in the world. And then we found an outlet for it with this book.” - Rick Bryson
Did you notice how Movies with Balls captures the spirit of classic sports films? In today’s episode, we dive deep with co-author Rick Bryson! Thanks for tuning in! Share your thoughts on the conversation in the comments, and use #AutisticCultureCatch to connect with fellow listeners on social media. Which scenes or insights gave you that “sports ball” thrill?
Resources:
Movies with Balls: The Greatest Sports Films of All Time, Analyzed and Illustrated
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Movies With Balls (Episode 80)