Needing a Win

All opinions expressed in the blog are solely mine, for educational purposes. This blog is not an official publication of any City of Melrose organization. 

"Pressure is playing a $5 dollar Nassau with $2 in your pocket." - Golfer Lee Trevino

I am neither a golfer nor a gambler. First, an explanation of a "Nassau" via a ChatGPT Plus consult:

Basic Structure

A Nassau is actually three matches in one:

1. Front nine – one match

2. Back nine – one match

3. Overall 18 holes – one match

Each segment is worth a separate bet or point total.

For example, a "$5 Nassau" means:

• $5 for the front nine

• $5 for the back nine

• $5 for the total 18-hole score

So the total wager is $15 (three $5 bets)

“Needing a win” usually applies to a person or team that’s been struggling. The adage says, “They needed a win.”

In sports, it might mean breaking a losing streak or a return to winning ways after a tough five-set defeat. In life, it could mean something deeper - a faith-restoring moment, a job after a long search, or a simple reminder that effort still matters.

Sometimes “needing a win” is less about the scoreboard than the soul.

Tangible Melrose Volleyball Examples

• Season opener: After an up-and-down preseason, MVB 25 needed and got a win in a hard-fought opener at Belmont - proof that the work, not the doubt, defined the team.

• Injury comeback: After a tough injury, Leila’s return from the boot wasn’t just physical progress - it was a personal victory, a moment when “needing a win” became “getting one.”

• Early adversity: MVB endured its first three-game losing streak in many years during a brutal early stretch. After a few uneven matches, the win at Masco turned the page - momentum and belief restored.

• Quiet recognition: Not every player earns headlines or stat lines. A kind word after a game, a mention in the media, or simple acknowledgment can transform “needing a win” into “getting one.”

• Appreciation and value: Every team has players whose consistency fuels the group - the ones who bring energy, effort, and encouragement daily, even when they're not playing a lot. Sometimes a smile, a high-five, or a sincere “thank you” gives them the win they’ve earned.

Closing Reflection

“Needing a win” happens to every athlete, coach, and person. The best teams don’t just chase victories; they create them — in attitude, in gratitude, in the way they lift each other.

A scoreboard can’t capture every win. Some are measured in belief, recovery, and respect.