The Yeshiva University in New York decided to put together a rowing team. Unfortunately, they lost race after race. They practiced for hours every day, but never managed to come in any better than dead last. The head of the yeshiva finally decided he couldn’t stand any more embarrassment so he sent Yankel to spy on the Yale University team.
So Yankel schlepped off to Yale and hid in the bullrushes off the river from where he carefully watched the Yale team as they practiced.
Yankel finally returned to the yeshiva. “I have figured out their
secret,” he announced. “They have eight guys rowing and only one guy shouting.”
From Oy! The Ultimate Book of Jewish Jokes, by David Minkoff