Podcast Summary: Pablo Torre Finds Out

Episode: The Billionaire, the Billboards and the Star of the Worst Ad in Sports History (PTFO Vault)

Date: July 22, 2025

Episode Overview

In this "talkumentary" episode, Pablo Torre embarks on a wild investigative journey into "the worst commercial in the history of sports": the infamous "sportsmanship" PSA starring “Alex” (real name: BJ Porter). Together with journalist Zach Schwartz, Pablo traces the ad’s strange cultural afterlife, explores the shadowy world of its billionaire backer Philip Anschutz, and finally tracks down the elusive star of the ad. The episode deftly examines sports culture, morality tales, the viral nature of memes, and how even the most cringeworthy PSA can become a lasting part of both pop culture and an individual’s identity.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Infamy and Obsessed Following of ‘The Sportsmanship Ad’

• [02:15] Zach Schwartz reveals his personal obsession with tracking down the commercial’s actor, admitting this is what cemented him as a "real sports pervert" in his wife’s eyes.
• The ad’s premise: A high school championship player confesses to the ref the ball last touched him, forfeiting a key play. Pablo and Zach describe the on-screen drama and the viral ridicule it receives (“dictionary definition of a hang dog look”). [04:24]
• [05:44] Zach Schwartz: “No one’s snitching at this level ... no one is actually doing that!” Pablo and Zach laugh off the ad’s implausibility and how its heavy-handed message leads to endless internet dunking.

2. The Hunt for ‘Alex’

• [08:26] Zach’s quest spans two and a half years. He reverse image searches, chases commercial credits, cold-calls the charity (values.com), pulls tax records, and gets stonewalled at every turn.
• Zach describes “feeling like Gyllenhaal in Zodiac” as the Foundation’s omnipresent billboards haunt him [20:59].
• [28:35] He finally crowdsources help on social media—his last resort as a journalist—leading him to “BJ Porter,” who's already following Zach on Twitter.

[29:18] Zach Schwartz: “The answer was actually following you while you were searching for him.”

3. Who's Behind the Foundation for a Better Life?

• The charity, which funded the ad, is secretive and anodyne about its mission ("encouraging people to bring out the best in themselves”).
• Zach’s tax sleuthing uncovers the real power: billionaire Philip Anschutz. Anschutz is revealed as a Western oil, fracking, and railroad tycoon who also controls arts and sports empires (Coachella, LA Kings, MLS, The Narnia movies, etc.)—but is publicly invisible.

[16:37] Pablo Torre: “He has his name on the championship trophy in Major League Soccer. And yet ... who the [expletive] is that guy?”

• Anschutz is tied to right-wing causes and described as ingenious at using the Foundation for a Better Life's values ads for broad, “diet” culture messaging. The tax structure allows networks to donate ad inventory for write-offs, making the PSAs omnipresent and lucrative for all involved.
• [22:08] Zach Schwartz: “Apparently ... it is the most widespread and successful PSA billboard campaign in United States history.”
• Critique: Should such resources serve moralizing PSAs or real direct aid? “I need more,” says Zach. [23:54]

4. The True Story of BJ Porter (aka ‘Alex’)

• In a big reveal, “Alex” is BJ Porter: child actor, actual athlete, and now basketball coach.
• On filming the ad: Most roles were played by real friends, teammates, and even family (dad as the rival coach). The original script was “even worse” but improved by BJ’s father’s intervention [35:14].
• The moment of confession in the commercial?—total fiction: “I did not touch the ball.” [36:12] BJ Porter

5. Viral Afterlife, Memes, and Personal Fallout

• BJ first saw the ad on TV with his college team, inciting laughs—not yet aware of its future meme status.
• Gets heckled by fans at college games (“You look like the sportsmanship kid!” [39:42]).
• Virality explodes with the internet and Twitter: teammates, fans, and even NBA star Damian Lillard (his former college teammate) join in the endless ribbing:

[41:52] Damian Lillard: “We stopped calling him BJ. We started calling him Bobby, because it was like, man, you a snitch ... it was a joke from there.”

• The jokes persist through his playing career, into his family life (“Daddy, you’re in a commercial ... why do they call you Alex?” [45:00]), to the extent that BJ deactivated his social accounts.
• Despite the lifetime of teasing, BJ takes the role in stride:

[47:32] BJ Porter: “Yeah, it’s a part of who I am ... I’m Alex. You know, I got an alter ego, so it is awesome.”

• When asked what he’d do if faced with “Alex’s” dilemma as a coach:

[46:31] BJ Porter: “There’s a reason why they have refs ... let them decide.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [03:06] Pablo Torre: “If you Google ‘worst commercial ever’ ... it’s right there in the first couple results.”
• [13:50] Pablo Torre: “The umpire has called a man out who was safe by a zillion miles ...”
• [16:37] Pablo Torre: Anschutz’s omnipresence: “He has his name on the championship trophy ... who the [expletive] is that guy?”
• [22:08] Zach Schwartz: “… the most widespread and successful PSA billboard campaign in United States history.”
• [29:18] Zach Schwartz: “The answer was ... following you while you were searching for him.”
• [36:12] BJ Porter: “I did not touch the ball ... this whole thing is a lie.”
• [41:52] Damian Lillard: “...we stopped calling him BJ. We started calling him Bobby, because it was like, man, you a snitch ...”
• [47:32] BJ Porter: “I’m Alex ... it’s a part of who I am.”

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:15]—Zach discusses his obsession and the ad’s legacy
• [04:24]—Breakdown/re-enactment of the commercial
• [08:26]—Zach’s investigative process begins
• [16:37]—Deep dive into billionaire Philip Anschutz
• [22:08]—Scale and mechanics of the value-PSA campaign
• [28:35]—Crowdsourcing “Alex”—the answer is closer than Zach realizes
• [32:02] - [36:12]—BJ Porter’s acting and filming experience; big reveal: "I did not touch the ball"
• [39:42] - [41:52]—Virality, college teammates, and Damian Lillard weigh in
• [46:31]—BJ’s present-day coaching philosophy on “Alex”-like scenarios
• [47:32]—BJ’s acceptance: “I am Alex. I got an alter ego, so it is awesome.”

Conclusion

This episode stitches together an absurd, endearing, and surprisingly profound saga: a widely mocked PSA, the billionaire who planted it everywhere, and the real (and remarkably well-adjusted) person behind “Alex.” Through meticulous investigation and heartfelt personal storytelling, Torre and Schwartz reveal what “sportsmanship” (and getting memed) really means in the internet age.