'Sports are supposed to be fun': Jays' Jo-Jo Reyes shares his 5 lessons for success

TheStar 'Sports are supposed to be fun': Jays' Jo-Jo Reyes shares his 5 lessons for success

Jo-Jo Reyes
Special to the Star


A pie in my face. Gatorade dumped on my back. The fans chanting my name.

Then a big hug from teammate Ricky Romero, who said Monday after I went the distance — a complete game, pitching all nine innings — in a victory over the Cleveland Indians: “Hey man, you can smile now. It’s over.”

Finally, I was a winner again, this time as a Toronto Blue Jay.

For three years, I’d gone without a victory as a starter — string of losses and no decisions that made it a winless streak, not a losing streak. My last “W” — June 13, 2008, against the Anaheim Angels when I was a member of the Atlanta Braves. I was at 28 starts without a victory. Another loss on Monday would have set a Major League Baseball record at 29.

So how, after three years of hard luck, did I became a winner once more?

Did I use a special trick, a change in routine, a complete makeover to my pitching style?

No, is the short answer. The slightly longer answer is I never lost sight of how much I love baseball and that a good attitude is as important as good work habits in the gym or on the field.

The Star asked me to give readers my lessons on how to be a winner — even if you’re not a major leaguer. I’ve given it some thought and here are five basic steps that work for me:

No. 1: Have fun

I’ve said many times that my teammates are awesome and it’s true. Sports are supposed to be fun and we have some good laughs. For example, they kept the mood light for me before Monday’s game, which helped. Brandon Morrow sent out a Tweet that day, jokingly asking for a goat or a chicken to sacrifice to change my luck. Funny guy. Smiling is not a sign of weakness. Even when others think things look bleak, whether it’s at work or at school, a sense of humour can be valuable.

No. 2: Preparation

There is no shortcut to excellence at the park, in the classroom or in the boardroom. There is no substitution for hard work, day in and day out. The physical component is critical — core training and aerobic sessions are part of my routine — but so is the psychological prep.

The Jays have a great online video library, where pitchers can access research on any hitter to review. It’s my responsibility to be mentally prepared to go to work, just like everyone else.

No. 3: Forget yesterday

Shake it off. That’s a cliché, I know. But that’s what you have to do. You can’t bring disappointment from one game into the next because it’s mental baggage. Neither can you expect an easy outing just because the last game went well — that can be just as troublesome as negative thoughts. Each game is a fresh start, no matter what your game in life is.

No. 4: Confidence

While I wished I was winning over the past three years, it wasn’t like I was frustrated, gloomy or down about it. As I said in step No. 3, forget yesterday and focus on what you can control in the future. Be confident in your skill and your knowledge.

Confidence can be infectious. On Monday, the fans were chanting: “We believe, we believe.” Then they chanted my name through the entire ninth inning. It was incredible to have that kind of support.

I also pitched the first complete game of my career on Monday. That was because manager John Farrell let it happen. He believed I could finish the game and I went out there and proved I could.

No. 5: Don’t forget

To me, humility is vital to success. How I was raised, the people I chose as friends, my coaches along the way — I wouldn’t be pitching for the Blue Jays if all those generous people hadn’t invested their time in me. I didn’t get here by myself and it’s helpful to keep your achievements in perspective. It’s also good to give back to your community, reach out to those who could use a helping hand. Remember, someone helped you along the way.

So, that’s a little peek into my personal playbook. A win-loss record is one gauge of an athlete’s success and, of course, that’s important. That’s why we compete, that’s why we dream of winning championships from the time we’re little boys.

But how people feel about you — your family, friends, teammates and fans — is another indicator. You’re always a winner when you’re surrounded by people who care about you. The trade that brought me to Toronto last year did that for me.