A horse walks into a bar. The bartender says, "Why the long face?"
Barack Obama replies, "His jockey just lost his health insurance, which should be the right of all Americans."
Humorist Andy Borowitz came up with that joke in the summer of 2008, when comedians were still trying to get a handle on how to make fun of then-candidate Obama. Unfortunately, the hypothetical Obama had a point, and still does: Jockeys are getting royally screwed.
To read more about how jockeys lag behind other sport contractors in compensation, you must be an ESPN Insider.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
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Peter Keating
Keating's blog covers the world of statistics and analytics. He will examine concepts for evaluating athletes and teams across all sports, not just those commonly associated with sabermetrics. He'll introduce researchers who are developing sports analytical tools. And he will present and examine "Next Level" findings from ESPN -- data analysis that goes beyond official statistics to explain strategies and performance.
Keating is a senior writer at ESPN the Magazine, where he has covered investigative and financial stories since 1999. He coordinates The Mag's annual "Ultimate Standings" project, which ranks all pro franchises according to how much they give back to fans. His work on concussions in football has earned awards from the Deadline Club, the New York Press Club and the Center for the Study of Sport in Society.
As an athlete, Keating has always combined the speed of Lou Piniella with the glovework of Darryl Strawberry, two childhood favorites. He lives in Montclair, N.J., with his wife, Karen, and their daughters, Eleanor and Samantha.
E-mail Peter: pkeating.nj@verizon.net or follow him on Twitter: @PKStatsBlog.