Here's a video that's been making the rounds the past couple of days, showing a ballgirl making a rather unbelievable catch of a foul ball during a Fresno Grizzlies game at Chukchansi Park. Pretty impressive; even when you discover that it was staged. It's actually a Gatorade commercial which was filmed following a regularly-scheduled game between the Grizzlies and the Tacoma Rainers. But it had — and continues to have — a lot of people fooled.

"The production company “leaked” the video onto the Internet over the weekend hoping for a viral effect, and considering the number of calls we’ve received today from all over the country, I suppose the strategy worked somewhat," said Grizzlies media and public relations director Paul Kennedy. "Everyone that called believed the video to be real, or were leaning in that direction. The original cut had the commercial voice-over and a logo at the end, but without that people were completely fooled."

Anyone really familiar with Minor League baseball would have known something was up: As Kennedy said, "Unfortunately we don’t have the budget for ball girls here at Chukchansi Park."

Interesting article in Shoot Online on how the commercial was made; it was created by Chicago's Element 79 Partners and directed by Baker Smith of Santa Monica.

As for how the ball girl (played by stuntwoman Phoenix Brown) made the spectacular catch that is the highlight of the video, she got a little help from rigs and Framestore CFC. Smith and his crew shot the big catch right after the game they were shooting concluded, attaching the ball girl to wires and having two stunt men off to the side literally yanking her up the wall. "It was so low-tech," Smith said of the stunt. "We had her run, and she would jump, and they just gave her a little extra oomph. It was really very, very simple."

But one has to feel sorry for poor Jake Wald, the left fielder shown in the video who "didn't even bother to give an effort," according to the announcer. Wald, who is in reality an infielder (and now plays for the Connecticut Defenders), will be forever known by those not in on the joke as the guy who got shown up by a girl.

Top Spot Of The Week [ShootOnline]

It's time for Minor Enterprise, which celebrates Minor League baseball and all else that is good and great about America. And now, please rise as William Hung sings his rendition of our National Anthem ...

May 15 was Totally Rad '80s Night with the Fresno Grizzlies, and by all accounts it did not disappoint. Front and center was Cobra Kai menace Johnny Lawrence (aka Billy Zabka), in the middle in this picture here, taken on Thursday with his new gang. Johnny really hasn't changed all that much from the looks of this photo. Bobby; I want him out of commission! Looks like he could still grab your boom box at the beach and throw it violently into the sand.

Here's a report on the festivities by Grizzlies director of media relations Paul Kennedy:

First of all, Billy was awesome, just an extremely cool guy. We had our best Thirsty Thursday crowd of the year, tons of people got into it and dressed up in 80’s outfits, and Zabka signed autographs for what seemed like forever. For the past three weeks, to hype the event, we’ve done an in-game contest where we bring someone on top of the dugout to answer trivia questions about Zabka. He was cool enough that we were able to do “Zabka on Zabka” last night and ask him trivia about himself, which the crowd loved.

Get him a body bag, yeah!

Taking a look at upcoming promotions and other swell stuff:

• Indiana Jones Night. Tonight, Ft. Myers Miracle (Class A Florida State League). One of many such promotions tonight around the minors, fans will, oh, I don't know, maybe punch a Nazi. Got your tickets for the midnight showing of Crystal Skull?

• Internet Safety Night With Erik Estrada. Saturday, May 24. Potomac Nationals (Class A Carolina League). You'll be pleased to know that Poncherello is now a spokesman for the Safe Surfin' campaign, which educates youngsters on the dangers of surfing the Internet. Of course the fact that you're here means that Ponch has already failed. They're also giving away "Internet safety-themed literature," which seems like an oxymoron.

• Tap Dance Day. Sunday, May 25. St. Paul Saints (Independent American Association). The Saints break new bobble ground when 2,500 lucky fans will receive the Sen. Larry Craig Bobblefoot doll. The toy features a bobbing foot extended below the partition of a bathroom stall, meant to commemorate the day that Sen. Craig was arrested for tapping his foot at an undercover police officer in a Minneapolis airport bathroom. I can hear Robert Klein singing I Can't Stop My Leg as clear as anything.

• Soybean Night. Monday, May 26. Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks (Independent Northern League). The glory. The pageantry. (Plenty of seats still available).

• We Love The Drake. June 12. Ft. Myers Miracle (Class A Florida State League). Help the Miracle celebrate the TV sitcom Seinifeld, which left the air 10 years ago this month. Serenity now!

• The Modesto Nuts Reprise Great Baseball Movie Scenes. Members of the Modesto Nuts (Class A California League) reenact a scene from The Sandlot. That one guy has Squints pretty much nailed.

• Bobblehead Of The Moment. Pat Sajak Bobblehead Giveaway. Sunday, May 25. Bowie Baysox (Class AA Eastern League). I must have this item! Mr. Wheel of Fortune himself makes his first public appearance at Prince George's Stadium, and will sign autographs. Pat Sajak will sign body parts!

Please send all minor league tips, including photos, game reports and promotions, to RickChand@GMail.com. Or, you can choose to solve the puzzle.

We do not train to be merciful here. Mercy is for the weak. A man confronts you, he is the enemy. An enemy deserves no mercy. What do we study here? THE WAY OF THE FIST, SIR. And what is that way? STRIKE FIRST. STRIKE HARD. NO MERCY, SIR. And when the Fresno Grizzlies stage a promotion, they also take no prisoners. Thursday, May 15 is Totally Rad '80s Night at Chukchansi Park, where the honored guest will be Cobra Kai karate dojo bad boy Johnny Lawrence. Yes, Daniel-san's nemesis, in person. Not for the meek!

In case you question his credentials, Mr. Lawrence was voted No. 1 in Star Pulse magazine's list of Top Movie Dicks of All Time in 2006. Not only did he sweep Daniel Russo's leg in a pivotal scene in the 1984 film The Karate Kid, but let us not forget that he was also responsible for smashing Daniel's boom box at the beach, and trashing his bike. We will never forget his sneer and his solar panel hairstyle (see video below).

His real name is Billy Zabka, and he appeared in several films subsequent to The Karate Kid; among them the 1992 classic Shootfighter: Fight To The Death. Now 42, he's still active in films and is a creative director for a music publishing firm.

"When we decided to have an '80s night, and learned that Billy Zabka lived lived in Grass Valley (near Sacramento), it was a natural to try and get him," said Grizzlies' Vice President of Marketing Scott Carter. "He was glad to do it. We asked him if we could recreate a Karate Kid fight scene and have our mascot, Parker, kick him in the face. He said sure." Totally Rad '80s Night will also feature a tribute to Garbage Pail Kids, '80s music, and other things yet to be dreamed up. Grab your body bag and come on down. Yeah!

Other promotions you're not going to want to miss:

• Tree Sapling Giveaway. Friday, South Bend Silver Hawks (Class-A Midwest League). Who can resist a promotion in which the first 3,000 fans receive trees? Kind of like a do-it-yourself bat day. (Note: No, ESPN employees may not keep the trees).

• Who Wants To Be A Mexican Millionaire? Monday, May 5, Huntsville Stars (Class-AA Southern League).
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo the good, old-fashioned politically incorrect way, as the Stars will hand out "green cards" and take whacks at a "human pinata." Plus, for two bucks, Gen. Santa Ana will let you drink a beer from his artificial leg. [Thanks to Benjamin Hill]

• Chris Snee Day. May 18, Binghamton Mets (Class-AA Eastern League). The Mets honor the New York Giants offensive guard and Montrose, Pa., native, who will sign autographs before the game with the Erie Seawolves. Please form an orderly line. Mr. Snee will not sign body parts.

• Bobblehead of the Moment. Ross Grimsley Bobblehead Giveaway. Saturday, Augusta GreenJackets (Class-A South Atlantic League). The GreenJackets salute the 1970s with $1 Pabst Blue Ribbon in 16oz. cans, disco dancing, twister, afros and Ross Grimsley, the former Reds, Orioles and Expos pitcher who is their current pitching coach. The doll should be a very interesting and sought-after item.

We're looking for your Minor League tips. Send all photos, game accounts, promotional news and recipes to RickChand@GMail.com. Thanks!