Jeanette Lee

WPBA Nationals

2011-11-03T18:03:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about pool so much lately. I try to squeeze in time every day to play pool. It is...really....squeezing it in. It's sad but the most of my time is spent at the computer working, marketing, etc and the rest of the time is spent with my kids. Last night I took Chey dress shopping. Tonight, we made beaded necklaces! You should see the ones they made me! One of a kind, for sure!!!

I've been doing some drills that Mark Wilson in St Louis gave me. They are called Power Drills. Hi, low, center, with a very hard hit/speed. I think it really shows any flaws you might have but it also is easy enough to pocket that you can concentrate on your preshot and post shot routine.

Outside of that, I'm playing different friends 9ball mostly. I prefer to play straight pool but it eliminates the break and I really need that practice so, oh well. I'll definitely try to post blogs or twitter/facebook while I'm at the tournament next week. Mostly, I'm working out to get stronger. I think my legs and back got really weak during my last pregnancy and now, it's painful and I get worn out quickly. That's ok, as long as I do something about it.....for now, making time to swim is essential! Love you, Jeanette

Bass Pro on Saturday

2011-11-03T17:59:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone! I'm going to be on Fox and Friends this Saturday morning so tune in. I've had a great relationship with Bass Pro for some years now and developed a friendship with founder Johnny Morris that I'm lucky to have. He is an amazing inspiring person who notices the details, is extremely down to earth while never thinking within a box. He gives back to every community he comes near and inspires others to do the same. He humbles me to think that I could have done a lot more for my sport. I still can I suppose! :)

This Saturday, we're going to talk about Santa's Winter Wonderland at Bass Pro this holiday season. Super cool events going on at Bass Pros nationwide! You should check it out! Also check on APA Black Widow tour to see how I can come to your area!!! Love, J

Black Widow starts teaching in INDY

2011-10-12T08:30:00.000-07:00

Something I've always loved to do is teach. I have always considered myself a student of the game and I've been fascinated by how well my coaches Mark Wilson and Jerry Briesath teach. I also the love the way my carom billiards coach and friend Ira Lee teaches. There's definitely an art to it. Some people just have a sincere passion for the game and know how to reach people, teach people in their own language. I mean, the students language. They know how to make things easier to understand. I've taught in the past and always enjoyed it but never seemed to have the time. There is so much I've learned and so much I want to share! There were always too many tournaments and special events to attend to and if I had any free time, I spent it with my family. Now, as my kids get older, I see so much more value in being home. I can't stand the idea of being away from home. So finally, I think it's time, it's worth me creating a program that allows me to spend quality time with my fans, teaching them how to become better players and I can still be home to have dinner with my kids and tuck them in at night! I hope this make you all happy because it surely makes me happy. I'm excited about it, I really am!! Now, this doesn't mean that I have quite competing. I still plan to play in ALL the WPBA Pro events, and travel to all the international events that make financial sense, but between events, I want to be able to grow pool from home while I'm growing my family! Well, raising my family. I really don't need to it grow in numbers! :) BTW, did I tell you? Our oldest Morgan and her hubby Jason are expecting! I can't wait!!! The future looks bright! I love you all, Thanks for being there!

Ahh, I guess I should give you info.

I plan to teach group lessons in Indy at a local pool room, have lunch, teach some more, play pool and sign autographs...The dates will be posted on my site and on my facebook Fan Page http://www.facebook.com/jeanetteleetheblackwidow.

So far, we have Nov 2 and Nov 22nd. First come, first serve, $300 per person for a day of pool, conversation and fun! with ME!!! Yay! To sign up or for more info, email indyblackwidowexperience@gmail.com

These days

2011-09-26T18:46:00.001-07:00

These days, things have been pretty busy at home. My husband gets up with the girls and helps Chey get ready for school. I used to have the baby girls all day but recently we got a full time daycare person to help with the little ones. I have a very very tough time in the morning from arthritis and degenerative disc disease. I'm very stiff, in a lot of pain and in a rush to get food in my stomach so I can take my Celebrex. Once I've had a good cup of coffee, I sit in front of the computer for a few hours, returning calls, making plans, answering emails....about once a week, I sneak off to Cheyenne's school to have lunch with her in her cafeteria....good ol cafeteria food is nothing compared to mom's yummy PB and J, carrots, apple sauce! Hehe! I've been going to my new gym, LA Fitness, it's very nice, but I'd really like to get out there five days a week. Not so easy. Every excuse in the book. I'm better off to go in the morning but my body doesn't want to go anywhere in the morning. In the afternoon, I rush to get work done in the office, grocery shop for dinner, pick up all the toys that I can't do in the morning or late at night from stiffness, and be free for Chey when she gets off the school bus. I spend a little time with her snacktime, homework, and play time before I start dinner and my babies are screaming for my attention....I've got the best babies in the world. By the end of the evening, there's no chance I have the energy to play pool. Problem is, deep inside, I'm still a world Champion and I'm screaming to play pool. My mind aches for it....I just need my body to...

So what's the plan? Get my swimming time to the top of my priority list. Get stronger physically so I can stand to play more pool. Create a stricter schedule. No more wasted time. I spent a little time with my coach Mark Wilson and my old coach Bob Carman is coming back this week. I'm not going to think about anything else. Just do it. Of course, I have to make a living and I need to work and spend time with my family, but my game won't be ignored any longer. I'm going to start playing hard again, whether or not it kills my back....because if I don't, it'll kill my soul......

Party!

2011-04-20T20:47:00.000-07:00

Hey all. I had an Easter RockStar party this last week for my daughter Cheyenne and an Egg Hunt for all the girls.....and during this time, I wonder what I've done to impact my daughter on what Easter is all about for a Christian. It is a time for fun, family, egg hunts, cute bunnies...but it's also about the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The sad thing is that instead of being happy, sometime, I just feel like a failure as a mother and a Christian....The good thing is...it's ok to fall, as long as you get back up each day and do your best with what you have. Even if you guys out there don't all share my beliefs, I encourage you to live your life according to yours, don't forget the things you stand for. Life can be pretty rough....we get caught up in day to day upsets and we don't make that time for ourselves or we settle for things that we KNOW don't follow our beliefs.. Be Strong, be Brave, and Stand by your values....one of my favorite quotes by Roosevelt:

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." Enjoy your Easter! Love you Jesus!

Mommy and Pool Champion

2011-04-06T10:53:00.001-07:00

So now I've had plenty of time to get adjusted to being a mom of 7.....not really. Although my stepdaughter Morgan and her husband Jason are in South Dakota, and Olivia and John are in college, I still have three little girls at home. Every day, I wake up and spend time with the little ones. Potty training and breakfast for Chloe and bottles and learning to eat solids for little Savannah. I play with them a while and then into the office. Head to the gym to strengthen my still weak body from giving birth to Savannah! Hurry back home to play pool by myself or with an opponent. Then I have to pick up my little Cheyenne from school, help with homework, occasionally add in girl scouts and karate and grocery shopping, cooking dinner, play time, bath time, bedtime and then finally, my husband gets some attention or I play some pool! Whew!!! And I love it.....but deep inside, I still know, I can be number 1 again and I know I can't do it with a part time effort! I need to play a lot more pool....period! So where do I sacrifice? Working and making money, or quality time with my family and all their precious moments, my health and fitness? At the end of the day, I know I am blessed. I have the best friends a girl can have, a loving family, a fairly healthy body, and a decent game of pool! Well, my "Rack Boy" just arrived! Hehe! Gonna beat him to a pulp! Talk to ya soon!

The APA Black Widow Tour 2011 - apablackwidowtour.com Jeanette Lee

2011-02-05T02:46:00.000-08:00

Brought to you by the American Poolplayers Association, the APA Black Widow Tour is aimed at getting more people to participate in the sport of pool -- a game that can be enjoyed by nearly anyone, regardless of age, gender or physical ability.

APA Announces Black Widow Tour in 2011

2011-01-08T03:57:00.000-08:00

The Black Widow, Jeanette Lee, may be coming to an area near you in 2011, courtesy of the American Poolplayers Association (APA). The APA Black Widow Tour will be stopping in 10 North American Cities in 2011. Those cities include:

Chicago
Miami
New York City
Dallas
Memphis
Seattle
Toronto

The final three cities will be determined directly by APA members. The three APA League areas that grow the most members between Spring and Fall will win a visit from the Black Widow. The final three tour stops are tentatively scheduled for late fall 2011.

Each exhibition will feature Jeanette talking about how she overcame scoliosis and got involved in pool, challenge matches against spectators and a photo and autograph session. Most of the exhibitions will be free of charge.

Find out how you can win a free VIP pass or maybe even a challenge match with the Black Widow by clicking here.

A chance to meet Black Widow Jeanette Lee

2011-01-08T03:55:00.000-08:00

"Pool players have a chance to meet ‘Black Widow' Jeanette Lee in Arlington Heights as part of her seven-city APA Black Widow Tour. Lee will compete against fans, show off trick shots and tell audiences about her life as a professional pool player"

Read more: http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110106/news/701079794/#ixzz1ARaXz3Ca

2011 Ford Explorer Commercial

2011-01-02T12:50:00.000-08:00

2011 Ford Explorer Commercial

Introducing Savannah Lee Breedlove

2010-11-06T04:53:00.000-07:00

Click images for more photos.

Week 27 for our itsy bitsy spider

2010-06-04T18:39:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone! I need to take a picture and post how funny I look with this little belly I have. Looks like I have a little cantelope in my tummy! It's so much fun, pain and fatigue and all. I feel so blessed after all the heartache that we've been through to be truly pregnant at this point. I still can't believe that I'm actually going to bear a child myself. I feel so ready to do this, even though I had no idea that it could even happen. I love being a mom. I love my children and I love my husband. I love my friends and how much I learn from all of them. I learn about myself, my flaws, my strengths and how blessed I really am all through the people I love. The people I don't care about or respect, I give very little attention to. But it's the people I love that I really listen to and through them, I desire to be a better person. As I love my children and my husband more, I really am forced to look at myself and see what I can "fix" so I can be the mommy and wife that they deserve. That means me stepping up to the plate, making every minute quality time, it means me working on my weaknesses and being honest about them....I love playing pool and I love entertaining people, so it's really important that I continue to work on getting my act together so I can have it all, my career and my family.....Thanks to all of you out there.....I feel so fortunate and I love you.....

It's a Girl!

2010-04-20T10:37:00.001-07:00

So I just got back from the doctors! I guessed it right, it's a girl! She's perfectly healthy in every way, according to the doctor.

It was so cool for me. I remember, with Angie (our surrogate for Chloe), we would go into the ultrasound room and I would ask her. How does it feel? Can you feel the baby kick you yet? I was so happy to share the experience with her but I never got to be the one lying in the chair. Other people had my stepdaughters and adopted daughters and my surrogate born daughter. I got to raise them and I'm so happy for the experiences I've had but I can definitely say that this is a dream come true. I just still can't beleive it's happening. I'd accepted years ago that it just wasn't meant to be that I carry a child. I thought it was God's plan to let me be the role model in Billiards and to raise awareness about adoption and so many other things I got to experience because I hadn't carried. And here I am.....Thanks to God for His love.....

A baby on the way

2010-04-16T08:02:00.000-07:00

Wow. So much has happened this last year. I started playing so much more and felt my game coming back strongly. I've been really enjoying the game and having the time of my life. This is all while my daughter Chloe was born on October 1 of last year (2009). Now, here we are in April, and Chloe is already 6 months old. She is just beautiful, is a twin of her father, with lovely green eyes and a great smile. It was an incredible experience and a different one from my experience with Cheyenne. Cheyenne is now 5 and we adopted her at birth. But we got two days notice before we got her. It was a whirlwind and while she was the perfect baby, we certainly weren't prepared for her. There was so much learning but every experience was a memorable one. She had my heart from the first day I saw her. With Chloe, she was planned. We had an incredible woman named Angie that gave 9 months of her life to fill a dream of ours. She did it in the best way possible. She not only invited me to every doctors appt, ultrasound, gave me all the sonogram photos, clipped coupons, forwarded baby info emails to me, gave me some baby stuff she had from her children, taught me about breastfeeding and all kinds of things that I never got to do with Cheyenne. The best part was that I got to see the inside of a maternity ward. I got to look in the room where they keep the babies. These are things I dreamed of since I was 5 or 6 years old. Well, to go even farther, Angie was so kind to pump breastmilk for me so Chloe could build a stronger immune system....C'mon! Who does that? She is my SuperWoman! My hero!

Well, Chloe was about two or three months old, when I was traveling through Europe and the Middle East on a Military Tour with my best friend Marlene. Every year or two, I travel to entertain our Armed Forces to show them our appreciation and to remind them of America by sharing one of our favorite pasttimes, POOL, with a good ol buttwhippin from the Black Widow.

Toward the end of our two week tour, I started feeling really nauseous and tired. I was convinced I was coming down with a stomach virus or something. It continued to get worse till I started throwing up and needing daytime naps. The schedule of the tour is rough, a lot of traveling, and I was not doing well. My friend Marlene and I started thinking I had food poisoning because of the puking. But then, I mentioned to her that HMMMMM.....my boobs are really tender...isnt' that weird? What could that be?....Marlene said, "OH MY GOODNESS! YOU'RE PREGNANT!!!!" I dismissed it completely, That's impossible! I can't get pregnant! You know that!
I was really on a search for what else it could be. Well, it'll go away and if it doesn't, I'll go to the doctor. Well, it didnt' go away. I got worse and worse.

Then I had to go to the Derby City Classic, a big tournament in Indiana. I went and I smiled and I played pool every night, only to run upstairs and get sick, and take Tums and throw up everything I ate for every meal I ate. I did bleed during this time so I was even more sure that I wasn't pregnant but because I was still so sick, I made an appt with my doctor. When the tournament was over, I went in....and guess what....

YUP! I was prego! After 15 years of marriage and month after month of disappointment and heartache, injections, pills, invitro, acupuncture, praying, crying, it was just crazy. The idea of this....Crazy!

So here I am with 5 kids and now, one more on the way. I have two beautiful stepdaughters Morgan and Olivia. Morgan just got married to my wonderful son-in-law Jason and Olivia is still in college and working two jobs. We have had Cheyenne since birth and the experience was so great it left me wanting more. We then were blessed to be asked to accept John into our family when he was 14 and he just turned 18 and has been accepted to almost all the Universities that he applied for. And with a beautiful gestational surrogate (meaning with my egg, not hers), we just had our first fully biological child, Chloe. We're done. Well, we thought we were done. I just wanted to be able to raise one more infant....its so wonderful.....If the surrogate didn't work, we were going to adopt once more....

Isn't God funny? Such a sense of humor....But I am so thankful and blessed. I have a husband and children that I love with every thing I have. I love all of them and I feel lucky to have them in my life. I have the greatest friends in the world. I have a job that I love. And I am comfortable with who I am.

I'm not saying I'm perfect. I'm far from it. But I'm comfortable with where I am and that I know how to get my goals achieved, I know my weaknesses and that it takes work every day to improve myself. That's more than many have. That comfort in knowing, "I CAN!"

The doctors are a bit wary of the condition of my back right now. The pregnancy has already taken a toll on what I can do physically, but I'm a healthy woman, even at my YOUNG age....hehe....so we think everything should go well. I'm using this time to get caught up on things and to spend more time with my husband, my children, and perhaps get more caught up on working on my website, my store, my Facebook, my Twitter, my FANS!!! I'm tired a lot, and I am just finally getting over the morning sickness. We all have our own plan and God has His. I just want to enjoy figuring out what He has in store for me.

I'm so grateful to you guys. I don't always have my stuff together, I take each day as it comes, but I do love you and hope you stick it out with me on this journey of life. I'm 5 months pregnant. Will find out if it's a boy or a girl next week and I'll make sure you're the first to know...We haven't picked out a name yet but we're working on it.....I love you. Jeanette

Chloe Angelee Breedlove

2009-10-25T11:01:00.000-07:00

As some of you know, we've been happily awaiting the birth of our baby girl (our first biological child) and our fifth addition to the Breedlove Clan. She arrived on October 1st, 2009 at 1:13pm weighing 6 lbs 14.7 ozs and 20 1/2 inches long.

My dream come true!

2009-09-21T20:23:00.000-07:00

Hi all! Things are looking up right now. I just got back from a WPBA tournament in Durango Colorado. It was at the Sky Ute Casino and my family and I had a great time. My husband and I brought our eldest daughter Morgan and our youngest daughter Cheyenne. It was wonderful. I played well over all. I lost to Pan and in the semifinals, I lost to Kelly Fisher. I still feel as though I'm getting closer and closer to where I once was with my confidence. The difference is, I'm much more experienced and knowledgeable than I was when I was at my best. It's been all the practice that I've been doing. It's really given me more confidence which shows.

That's not the greatest news though. It's that in 3 weeks, October 7th, we are expecting a baby girl, our first biological child together. I have two stepdaughters (Morgan and Olivia) and two adopted (John and Cheyenne). One day, I will tell you about our infertility journey that we've endured but for now, we will just rejoice and praise God. I really stopped believing that it could ever happen. I'm so fortunate to know Angie Risen-White and her husband Jerry, who are both incredible people that are voluntarily giving us this gift. I can't imagine it. What she must think or feel to be able to give this kindness to whom, a year ago, she didn't even know.

I've really been holding back a little. With all our disappointments, there's been a small insecure feeling that this isn't really happening and something terrible might happen. I don't want to think about it. I want to enjoy this. And as we get closer and closer, I feel myself getting happier and happier.

My daughter Cheyenne named her Chloe, after the main character in "Beverly Hills Chuhuahua" the movie. I named her middle name after Angie, our surrogate and my last name. Chloe's middle name will be Angelee. I just can't wait.

Don't worry. I won't forget pool. I've already set up a schedule so that I can practice atleast four hours a day while someone helps watch the baby and Cheyenne and John are in school. (Our two eldest have already flown the coop) I've left

Summer Kids Overnight Camp

2009-05-04T21:11:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone! So, I have this idea. I want to create a summer kids overnight camp. I know there are alot of young players, serious players who want to become pros. But once they get to a certain level, where do they go to learn from the pros? To get their inspiration? To learn the tricks of the trade from their very own role models? Right now....nowhere. So, I was thinking, if I could use my resources to create a camp, an affordable one, that will go in the summer and be for kids at atleast an intermediate level, who aspire to become pros, ....that would be so cool. I would have classes that work on advanced 8ball and 9ball strategies, careers in billiards, the mental game, financial management, marketing yourself, etc. Wouldn't that be sooooo cool??? And if they can spend four days with the Black Widow and Johnny Archer and Allison Fisher and Mika Immonen? Ask them questions, play pool with them....I just gotta make it happen. Anyone have any ideas, want to be a sponsor, just email me off my site and title it "Kids Camp". I'd love to hear from you. I have the perfect place! Love you guys!

Exciting news all over the place

2009-05-04T20:48:00.000-07:00

So, I'm gonna explode with excitement. First of all, I'm having a baby! Now, my beloved fans know that I have two stepdaughters from my husbands first marriage. They are beautiful and wonderful. I have known them since the youngest was about 6 1/2 years old. Of course, they lived with their mom most of that time, who has been quite consistently awful to us, doing what she could to sabatoge our relationship with the girls. Nevertheless, they are great girls and although I didn't get to raise them, we love them so much! Then, four and a half years ago, we adopted Cheyenne from birth. She'll be five in June. What a blessing that has been. To get to raise a child from birth and have all the joy ( and final say) on how we raise her. It's been so wonderful. The is the most incredible things that's ever happened to me and she makes me happy endlessly. She loves her sissies so much, but of course, by now, they are in college, as independant as ever. Then, three years ago, we became the permanent legal guardians of a young man who was 14 at the time. He is now 17 years old. A handsome and sweet young man that we love very much. His name is John and you will start to see more pictures of him in my photo gallery.

Well, anyway, George and I have been married for 13 years and have always wanted to have our own children but it hasn't been in the cards for us. We have tried naturally and multiple tries with specialists, with no success. Finally, we had a beautiful woman named Angie,and her loving Husband Jerry agree to make our dreams come true. Angie is carrying a little baby girl, our biological child, in her belly as we speak. We're about four months out. We'll expect the baby in October. I'm excited beyond belief. Some people think I was put on this earth to grow the sport of billiards and be a world Champion. I know I was put on this earth to be a mom. And I thank God for it. Nothing, absolutely nothing, gives me great joy. I'm just fortunate that I married a man that is compassionate, supportive and a really good father. I love my husband so much and I hope I honor my husband always because he deserves all my respect and love.

I want to tell you more about Angie and the baby in my next post because this will get too long and I have more to share with you (like what the baby's name is gonna be! Cheyenne named her!)

The other news is that I am playing more pool now that I have in years. My body is always sore but it's holding up to longer hours than I have been able to in the past. I'm more fit, working out more, practicing more.

I'm going to these tournaments with more confidence and preparation. I have also been working on my break and think I have found a good solution. Keep your eyes open to seeing me on ESPN this year because I'll be there! I love it!

I think the biggest thing I have to work on this year is my consistency and control on the break, and most importantly, my stroke and preshot routine. I know what I need to work on, I just need to do it. I'm very excited about all this because it's what I love to do.

Right now, I can only say, Thank you. Thanks to all my fans out there that ALWAYS support me and give me encouragement. I really need it at times. And I know you are there. I love you. Jeanette

Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Florida

2008-11-27T16:21:00.000-08:00

Hey guys! Wow, so I've had a better year, playing very well, but OH MY GOODNESS! If I don't improve my break, I am going to drive myself crazy! I have lost in the last three events, PURELY because I didn't pocket a single ball on the break the entire sets against my opponents that I lost to. The difference between their break and mine was embarrassing. I usually break well, and I've been playing well so when I break well, I tend to win. But my break simply isn't consistent. Sometimes, when my timing is off, it can be pretty bad. I have, as you know, alot of physical problems that has prevented me from spending alot of time practicing the break. But, the bottom line is,if I want to win a tournament these days against the caliber that's out there today, I need to break. If that means working out more, getting stronger, practicing mental imagery,whatever it takes...... Wish me luck and Happy Thanksgiving! I love you.

Pacific Coast Classic

2008-10-06T12:21:00.000-07:00

The Chinook Winds Casino is a pleasure to play in. They are so nice and I love staying at their hotel on the beach. Even with a bit of rain, there was plenty to see and shop. My daughter Cheyenne has always been with me but she is getting old enough to really pay more attention to the games and know what the score is.
Well, I finished 9th. I went undefeated and played very well. Until I met up with Kelly Fisher in the single elimination rounds. She played great but my break really disappointed me. I just broke the balls poorly the whole set. Most times I didnt make a ball on the break. I also missed a few key shots which didn't help when you are playing such a formidable opponent. I had a third and a second place finish in the last two events so I was really hoping I would win this one but I'm still encouraged. I feel more optimistic and more inspired to play and work on specific aspects of my game. We have one more event this year and I plan to win it. I will work hard, but I am also aware that there are more great players on the tour than ever and they are all very hungry to win. I will give it my all. I hope to see you at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood Florida at our next event. It's a beautiful venue and I love it there. Wish me luck and keep me in your prayers. I love you all. Jeanette

Finally doing better! Staying in Indiana

2008-09-15T11:48:00.000-07:00

Wow, it feels so great to be in the finals. 2nd place at the Carolina Classic. I can say that Jasmine Ouschan from Austria really did play well. She is a fine player and deserved to win. I really felt comfortable at the table but when the match started, I made a careless error and she made me pay for it. The balls didn't break well for me so I didn't get a lot of opportunities whereas, Jasmine, broke great and the balls laid well for her! Oh well, at least I had a great tournament! I played well all week, stayed focus and very importantly, my husband George was there with me. As always, my daughter Cheyenne was there and my good friend and Teacher's Pet, John Da Babe Rousseau, and my old friend Dave Parry who lives here locally. What great fun! I just LOVE Raleigh and was happy to spend more time in Durham which was a wonderful community. If I had a great opportunity to move here, I would. BTW, we have decided to stay in Indy a while longer. We are still working on opening a club in Orlando, but we don't want to take the kids out of school here and we both love our friends and family here so we figure why move until we have a place open. I love you all! Thanks for having my back! Jeanette

Moving to Orlando

2008-08-21T08:15:00.001-07:00

Wow! What a whirlwind! We just made an offer on a house and it's really ice. My husband and I went to Orlando with my good friend and soon to be business partner, Rolando Aravena, last week to look at houses and we found the perfect one. It's great because I may get to work in Orlando rather than traveling all the time and even when I do, there will be more nonstop flights. I will greatly greatly miss the friends we have made in Indianapolis,though. It's such a beautiful city with so much warmth and love. I have the most wonderful friends and we are truly blessed to have friends that I believe will last a lifetime. We are looking at locations to open up a billiard club, which will be a dream come true. Finally, a place to hold my schools, clinics, exhibitions, parties, etc. I can't wait. I'm having a bit of trouble keeping up with my work while trying to move. Oh, and did I mention, we are trying to have another baby? And our 16 year old son that we adopted last year, John has to be enrolled in school in two weeks in the new school. Aaagh! But things are great. We are a family and we are together. Both of Georges stepdaughters are in college and doing well. I rarely see them. Well, I saw Morgan recently and hopefully she'll come to my birthday party aftertomorrow. I feel so much love out there. Thank God that I am so blessed! Jeanette

New Routine

2008-08-21T08:14:00.001-07:00

So I'm just coming off stomach surgery and it feels like it's never gonna heal. This is really bothersome because alot of my motivation and strength comes from working out every day and I haven't been able to go to the gym in a while and I feel like it affects my mood and attitude.

I am starting to play pool at 6 am. Never in my life did I think I would wake up at 6 am and play pool, but at my friend Rolando's suggestion, it's a way to guarantee myself time to play pool, before the day gets on it's way and ahead of me. I thought he was crazy and I said no way for about two weeks, and then one day, I woke up and went to the pool room. It was dead quiet, I played great focused pool and so at peace, it was awesome. Of course, then I had to get John off to school and Cheyenne woke up and wanted breakfast and then my assistant showed up and we had to go over business projects and errands to run and suddenly, it was dinner time and then bedtime. If it hadn't been that morning, there wouldn't have been any at all. Hummph. I guess guys can be right once in a while. Imagine that. Hehe.

So, I think I'll try it for a while. See I can still play pool in the day or night, but the early early mornings, well, that's my quiet time. Some people meditate, some people sit on the porch drinking coffee, some people read the paper. The Black Widow plays pool.

Jeanette Lee Upcoming Public Appearances

2008-06-24T03:30:00.000-07:00

Jeanette Lee will be making multiple appearances in the coming weeks. From June 25th through the 29th she will be participating in the WPBA Great Lakes Classic at Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City, Indiana. Tickets and additional information can be found at www.WPBA.com.

On Wednesday July 2nd, Jeanette will continue her tour of Bass Pro Shops Grand Openings in Rossford, OH from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM. The new Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World is located at the Crossroads of America, at the intersection of the nation's longest north/south interstate, Interstate 75 and east/west interstate, the Ohio Turnpike 80/90.

On Saturday July 5th, Jeanette will be making her first appearance at Island Breakers Billiards in Merritt Island, FL from 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Additional information can be found at www.islandbreakers.com

Jeanette is proud to announce the official launch of her new online store

2008-05-05T03:34:00.000-07:00

Jeanette is proud to announce the official launch of her new online store. The Black Widow 's online store is completely stocked with some of Lee's signature merchandise including posters, photos, billiards equipment and memorabilia. Click here to view all the merchandise available.

First event of the year

2008-04-20T10:34:00.001-07:00

Wow have I been depressed. No holding back, I can admit, I've been really depressed. I worked so hard these last couple months, just to come to the first WPBA and have the worst finish in my career. I went two and out. I lost 9-8, and 9-8, just dogged my brains out. To be fair, I have been traveling waaaay too much internationally and coast to coast. Jet lag really affected me. I also have been changing certain aspect of my game to give me more consistency but it just wasn't solid enough yet. I beleive in continuing to improve and I believe in what I'm working on but it takes time and I just don't have enough patience sometimes. So days later, and lots of rest in bed, I'm back in action. I'm starting to work out at the gym again tomorrow. I'll start practicing hard again as well. I feel your support out there and I don't want to let you down. I'll keep working, keep improving, and keep on smiling. I love you guys!

Game Upgrade: Jeanette Lee Gets Spotlight in Revamped BilliardsDigest.com

2008-04-02T04:35:00.000-07:00

As part of its 30th anniversary celebration, Billiards Digest will unveil its redesigned, revamped and enhanced website on Wednesday, April 2 — featuring new sections for tips and instruction, videos from the greatest matches of the last 30 years, and greater exposure for its popular "Dear Jeanette" advice column penned by pool superstar Jeanette Lee.

"Jeanette’s column is one of the staples of our magazine, so we knew we wanted to make it a centerpiece of our redesigned Web site," said Mason King, managing editor of Billiards Digest.

In the column, Lee dispenses wit and wisdom on a wide range of topics relating to pool, including poolhall romances, table etiquette, and instruction tips. Lee will be one of the featured columnists on the redesigned site’s home page, and the subsection devoted to the column will include archives with every monthly entry since February 2004.

In addition, Lee is the subject of BD’s cover story in the April issue, which will be featured prominently during the new site’s first month online.

Other upgrades to the restyled site — www.billiardsdigest.com — will include:

A new section devoted to tips and instruction, featuring Tony Robles’ "BD House Pro" column and major coaching features on topics like breaking and staying in stroke.

A new section devoted to the magazine’s video features — "PoolDawg Stroke of Genius" and "30 Over 30" — presenting great moments from the video archives of Accu-Stats Video Productions, ESPN, WPBA, Matchroom Sport, and Billiards International.

"Web Gems," a rotating collection of the best billiard videos found on the Internet.

Monthly columns by esteemed "Tips & Shafts" writer George Fels and BD Publisher Mike Panozzo.

An archive of articles on pool history, equipment care, and more.

Daily news reports in the Headstring News column.

A regular "news and views" blog by Mason King, managing editor.

The restyled site also will give greater exposure to its Forums section, providing links to the most active threads on the Cue Chalk Board forum directly from the billiardsdigest.com home page.

"We have a very passionate forums community; they’re really the heart of the site," King said. "We wanted to give them as much exposure as possible and broaden the conversation even further."

Billiards Digest celebrates its 30th anniversary this year — the inspiration for the "30 Over 30" video feature, sponsored by Predator Cues. Every month in the magazine and on the website, BD’s editors will count down the greatest 30 tournament-final matches of the last 30 years, including video from most of the sets. The April issue covers matches 21-19. The top two matches will be revealed in the December issue.

The "PoolDawg Stroke of Genius" feature also debuted this year in print and on the Web. Sponsored by PoolDawg.com, the monthly feature highlights the most incredible pool shots in history, accompanied by video provided by Accu-Stats.com.

"We’ve had an overwhelming response to these features from readers and visitors to the site, and we’re excited to make them an integral part of BD’s new Web home," King said.

The revamped site will retain all of its usual features, including the "PoolDawg/BD Power Index," R.A. Dyer’s popular "Untold Stories" column, the "Pool on TV" calendar, and tournament listings.

5 more weeks till the Worlds

2008-02-23T15:08:00.000-08:00

Wow, I'm kind of getting excited. I haven't been to the World Championships in a few years. Several reasons. I had a tough schedule, financially, the prize money is weak, the long trip is hard on my body and most importantly, I felt unprepared to win. This time is different. I've been practicing more than ever. I have to really sacrifice time with friends and family, shopping, and alot of the charity work that I normally used to say Yes to. I still do plenty, but not as much as before. Now, I just go to the gym, work in the office for a few hours and then go practice. Normally, I would spend half the day with my daughter, now I put her in full time day care. Of course she still takes trips with me when I'm gone for more than a day or two, but still I wish I could be with her more. I made a decision to commit to getting my game stronger than ever and I have to back that up. So, what am I doing? Mostly stroke drills. Playing by myself, working on smoothing out my stroke and timing. There are certain shots I isolate to build my confidence in specific areas. Of course, off the table, I'm getting really disciplined about working out everyday and making my back stronger. I hope I see you out there and you say HI. I feel your support out there. Thanks for reading.

Training like Crazy

2008-02-01T09:59:00.001-08:00

I've really happy. I started making this effort to really get my game back in top form which it hasn't been in years. My priority has been being a good wife and mother, and of course, making a living and promoting pool. All the while, I have been sadder and sadder, going to each tournament unprepared. Of course, I still do well in events, but I always wonder, what if.....what if I gave these girls my real game. What if I trained like I'm supposed to? Well, time goes on and years are passing and it's time I want another baby. And I tell myself, if I have another baby, I really have no shot to be number one. It takes so much dedication to be the worlds greatest against the caliber of players we have today. And the way I am, I'll spend all my time with my babies. So, before I have another, i have to look at myself and wonder, do I really want this number one spot. Do I dare to go for it and risk failing, sacrifice the time with my family and friends and the income I would make where I would now be practicing more?
And with the support of my husband, it's a resounding YES! I just really really do love this game and I know I can play better. Well, it's been hard work. Doing drills like the old days, working on my stroke, getting all the little imperfections out. I'm going to the gym every morning, stretching, cardio, strength training, machines, free weights, eating right, and stretching again. I come home, go right to the pool room. I play 45 minutes, take a break for 15-20 minutes, play 45 minutes, take a break. I have to take breaks because my back and joints are just awful, and lately, my sciatic nerve is really hurting. I have to rest alot. During my 15 minute breaks, I run to the office and work on the computer, answering emails, looking at images, design things, approve things,etc. During my one hour break, I lay down. I'm still so excited. I love pool, and I love that I'm going for it. Stay fit, eat right, think positively and forward. I love you all out there!

It's a new year!

2008-01-18T10:09:00.000-08:00

Wow. So here we are. A new year! What's different? Well, so many things. I have a fantastic new website that I'm very proud of. I was smart enough to get Jessica Kim to be my project manager and on her suggestion, Owen Mundy to design it. Wow. Better than I could have wished for. And it will continue to get better.
I have my old coach Bob Carman back. He and I are going to give it one final real effort at being number one again. What's it going to take? Well, I've never really lacked in knowledge, or heart, but having cut back on my practicing dramatically over the last 6 years has taken it's toll. By that, I mean that all my weaknesses become glaringly obvious when my confidence is not there to hide them with great shotmaking ability. My stroke has always been fine, but with the talent so strong these days....if I want to be number one, it's got to get a whole lot better. And with that, my discipline on and off the table. I have this terrible tendency to speed up as I play better. Eventually, I trip over myself with careless errors. As I've practiced less, i picked up all these bad habits, like dropping my elbow, jumping up on a tough shot instead of staying down, tightening my grip and punching a ball in instead of stroking it in. Blaah, blaah, blaah. I just really need to give it an entire overhaul.
I have new sponsors, Liquid Wick. We plan to design a Widow Maker line of cues. I'm very excited about the idea.
I have signed a deal with Bass Pro Shops so look out for promotional efforts on their behalf. I resigned with King.com for my pool game, I love that game. You really should check it out. I have an online tournament pretty often where you can challenge me personally. And on that game...you actually have a shot to beat me...hehehe.
I'll be coming out in the next Rocawear ad campaign. What a great experience and opportunity. As they are ready, we'll update you.
Lastly, I've signed a nice contract with ESPN to do more announcing,etc. Fun fun fun. I really do want more children, I want to have more Black Widow Experience Clinics, and I want to open Black Widow Billiard Parlors, but for this year, my first focus will be to get back to number one!
Thanks for checking in. I'll be writing more often! Jeanette

Billiards Start-Up Wins Big By Signing Renown Billiard Superstar Jeanette Lee, "The Black Widow"

2007-12-13T04:38:00.000-08:00

How Do You Lock Up the Biggest Star in Pool? Present a Unique and Bold Vision Complementary to Lee’s Own Competitive Spirit.

Albuquerque, NM – (December 13, 2007) – Billiards newcomer, LiquidWick Pool Cues, an emerging cue manufacturing and media promotion powerhouse, announced today that it has signed world billiard star Jeanette Lee "The Black Widow" to a multi-year contract.

"LiquidWick and Jeanette Lee make a great match because we share the same competitive spirit. ‘The Black Widow’ gets her name from her ability to devour the competition. LiquidWick has a vision and plan to do the same," said Rich Gustin, LiquidWick partner.

Like a Ferrari racing from 0 to 60 in mere seconds, LiquidWick partners, Rich Gustin and Dan Shields, left the starting line just over one year ago, hit the accelerator and continue to rev the engine. They launched the company, produced and filmed two half-hour infomercials, three music videos, their own "Trick Shot Mania" DVD and became the first billiards company to air an infomercial on national television. It makes sense to join forces with Jeanette Lee, the sport’s most recognized player, to build a partnership that will help fuel LiquidWick, a company in the fast lane with no signs of slowing down.

"I firmly support the products I endorse and I’m thrilled to stand behind the quality of LiquidWick Pool Cues," said Lee. "I’ve also had the opportunity to review some of LiquidWick’s incredible promotional concepts involving Las Vegas that I think will excite pool players around the world. I look forward to partnering with a company like LiquidWick that offers tremendous promise and growth for the billiards industry."

LiquidWick will incorporate Lee into their unique marketing strategy that includes infomercial advertising, industry promotional initiatives and a new line of "Black Widow" themed signature cues called "Widow Master."

"Jeanette’s skill and experience lends perfectly to the co-design of our new ‘Widow Master’ cue," said Dan Shields, LiquidWick partner. "This new cue line will maintain our high standards and appeal to players of all levels."

LiquidWick plans to use the launch of the "Widow Master" cue to expand into retail locations nationwide.

"We are actively seeking both mass market and industry-specific retail partners. We plan to provide full multi-media advertising materials featuring Lee for retailers to use in their own traffic driving campaigns," said Shields. "Interested parties should contact LiquidWick@comcast.net."

"LiquidWick is a company with solid ideas and an aggressive management team that gives them a strategic advantage at becoming a market leader," said Tom George, Octagon's Senior Marketing Officer.

Lee is the winner of more than 25 national and international titles and has received numerous industry accolades including consistently being recognized as one of the Most Powerful People in Billiards by Billiards Digest. The Brooklyn, NY native was also named one of the sexiest female athletes in the world by ESPN. Lee also serves as a national spokesperson for The Scoliosis Association, Inc. For more information on Lee please visit her newly revamped website at www.blackwidowbilliards.com.

LiquidWick Pool Cues is a cue manufacturing and media production and promotion company endorsed by world billiards star Jeanette Lee, "The Black Widow." They are the first billiards company to air an infomercial on national television. Their media production arm has produced, "The LiquidWick Infomercial," "Trick Shot Mania" a DVD featuring Andy "The Magic Man" Segal, and music videos for actor and musician, Bokeem Woodbine and singer songwriter Dawn Jameson. www.liquidwick.com

Contact: Dan Shields, LiquidWick Partner

Phone: 1-877-345-1330

liquidwick@comcast.net

www.liquidwick.com

Jeanette Lee Launches Black Widow Jewelry

2007-12-12T04:41:00.000-08:00

Billiards Sensation Signs Deal with Korean-Based TVShopPlus.com to Offer Specialized Jewelry Line

McLean, VA / Seoul, Korea (December 12, 2007) – Billiards star Jeanette Lee has today announced a deal with www.TVShopPlus.com to offer an exclusive line of jewelry and accessories hand-picked by "The Black Widow" herself. Based in Korea and a division of SBS Broadcasting, www.TVShopPlus.com is one of the country’s top three network TV channels that will offer viewers a wide range of jewelry options.

"I am really excited to expand ‘The Black Widow’ persona with a personalized jewelry line," said Lee. "The items I have selected are elegantly designed and beautiful to wear. I really hope my fans and others around the world enjoy wearing them as much as I do."

A wide array of Black Widow Jewelry is now available including earrings, lockets, necklaces and bracelets. The jewelry is priced in the Korean Won currency and ranges from $40 to $600 in value. The website also offers exclusive photos of Lee modeling some of her favorite items from the jewelry line.

"Octagon is proud to join forces with Cindy Lee and Charlie Williams of Dragon Promotions to grow Jeanette’s commercial interests in Korea," said Tom George, Octagon’s Senior Marketing Officer. "We have already collaborated on several events for Jeanette in Korea and look forward to cultivating more business opportunities in the future."

"Jeanette is considered to be an international star and household name in Korea," said Cindy Lee, CEO of Dragon Promotions who partners with Octagon in Lee’s Korean business ventures. "SBS television network is thrilled to have her affiliated with their shopping site among other top Korean celebrities from movies, TV shows and sports."

Lee is known throughout the world as "The Black Widow" with her trademark from her sleek, black outfits and deadly play on the pool table. Lee has won titles such as Women's Player of the Year, World Games Gold Medalist, Empress Cup Champion and World Trickshot Champion. She is beloved by fans around the world and considered by many as the most recognizable sports figure in billiards.

For more info, please visit the newly revamped www.blackwidowbilliards.com or http://www.tvshopplus.com/sbstvshop/handler/StarShop-Main.

Octagon is the world’s largest sports and entertainment representation and marketing agency with global expertise in consulting, athletes & personalities, event management, property representation, marketing solutions, licensing and merchandising and talent procurement. As part of The Interpublic Group (NYSE:IPG), one of the world’s leading organizations of advertising agencies and marketing services, Octagon employs more than 1,000 people in 60 offices around the world. For further information please visit: www.octagon.com.

Media Information:
Scott Horner – (703) 905-3379, scott.horner@octagon.com

Jeanette Lee Wins Empress Cup

2007-10-27T04:43:00.000-07:00

Chun Cheon. Korea-Jeanette Lee went undefeated to become the 2nd Annual Empress Cup Champion. The Empress Cup drew record breaking TV ratings last year in Korea and even pushed #1 rated sport baseball back in its live broadcast. The Dragon Promotions produced event comprised of 6 of some of the world's most talented and beautiful ladies players in a round robin format. This year's players were Shanelle Loraine of Guam, Isabelle Krafczyk of Germany, Ga Young Kim of Korea, Yu Ram Cha of Korea, Miyuki Sakai of Japan, and Jeanette Lee of USA.

The event was sponsored by the city of Chun Cheon in conjunction with their annual sports festival which included competitions in skating, roller blading, bass fishing, and break dancing. The billiards event was the main attraction on center stage and was aired live for 4 hour broadcast on MBC ESPN, Korea's #1 network.

Isabelle Krafczyk won her first international TV debut by defeating Shanelle Loraine in the first match. Next Ga Young Kim looked on her way to dominate Japan's Sakai but missed a very easy routine 9-Ball to win the match 3-0. Instead Sakai mounted a great comeback at the cost of Kim's error and won 3-2. Next Koean Womens Champion Yu Ram Cha shut out Krafczyk 3-0 and then Jeanette Lee defeated Sakai 3-1. Cha clinched her finals berth by crushing Loraine her next match and Kim needed to defeat Lee 3-1 to force a tie breaker but could not overcome the Black Widow and lost 3-1.

The players were placed in two groups and the finals would pit the top finisher in each group against each other. Lee crushed Cha in a whitewash in 2006 Empress Cup. So Cha and Lee would face each other in a re-match of last year's Empress Cup round robin match, except this time this would be for the title. Despite Cha making a superb out in the first game whicj included two difficult bank shots, Lee won the first set 2-1. The second set was won by Cha 2-0 after Lee made a terrific thin cut shot on the 9-ball only to have the cueball go two rails for a scratch. Lee and Cha one set each. This would push the finals to a sudden death 1 game match. Cha won the lag and had an opportunity to run out but stymied herself on the 5 ball and opted for a safety. Lee came to the table hooked but went for a masse instead of a jump shot. She curved the cueball perfectly to pocket the 5-Balll length of the table and then shot a nervy long straight 6-ball and finished off the 7,8,and 9-ball perfectly with a concluding fist pump announcing her victory.

"It feels good to win a 9-Ball event here finally. It's a good start to this week's competitions." said Lee.

Lee can now add the Empress Cup 9-Ball title alongside her Queen of Carom and Women's Trickshot Challenge wins. In Korea Lee has now won in 3 disciplines in 3-Cushion, Artistic Pool, and 9-Ball.

The Empress Cup was also supported by billiard industry sponsors Brunswick Billiards and Predator Cues.

For more information on Korea events goto www.dragonpromotions.co.kr or www.dragonpromotions.com

World-Class Billiard Center to Be Built at Carolina Crossroads

2007-03-15T04:45:00.000-07:00

Roanoke Rapids, NC (March 15, 2007) - MDII, L.L.C. has today announced its plans to partner with pro billiards star "The Black Widow" Jeanette Lee to build the first Black Widow Billiards at Carolina Crossroads this year off Interstate 95 (Exit 171) in Roanoke Rapids. Carolina Crossroads is the first of several planned Black Widow Billiards locations. Other potential sites include Lee's hometown of Indianapolis, Dallas and discussions are under way for more locations across the country.

"The site is perfect, the location is perfect, and Carolina Crossroads and I have the same vision," said the Black Widow. "We're looking for a place where people can have fun, connect with one another in a fun environment, and walk away having learned more about pool."

Lee started playing pool at age 18, turned pro at 21, and was number one in the world by age 23. Lee is certainly a fan favorite and arguably the WPBA's (Women's Professional Billiard Association) most recognizable player.

"The Black Widow persona has always signified an image of class, quality, and credibility," said Tom George, Octagon's Senior Marketing Officer. "Billiard players around the country will immediately know the type of facility they can expect when entering a Black Widow Billiards location."

The two-story, 31,000 square ft. facility will house 20 pool tables, a full-service pro-shop, restaurant, VIP rooms, and conference center. In addition to pool, the center will also include a 500-seat entertainment center that will provide a venue for the Comedy Club circuit and other events.

"My aim is to also have women of the WPBA at Black Widow Billiards weekly to give lessons and to allow the opportunity for patrons to interact and sharpen their own game," said Tony Davis, General Manager. "We also envision the conference center as a place for sports fans to watch major televised sporting events on one of the East Coast's largest screens."

The $5 million facility, which is scheduled to open in 2008, will also be equipped for televised tournaments, similar to the Carolina Women's Billiard Classic held recently in Rocky Mount, NC, and other charity and corporate events.

About Carolina Crossroads: Carolina Crossroads is located off Interstate 95 in Roanoke Rapids, NC (Exit 171). The entertainment, tourism, and retail destination located between Richmond, VA, and Raleigh, NC, will offer live performance theatres, shops, hotels, convention and conference facilities, recreation and amusements, and numerous dining options. The Randy Parton Theatre, which opens in 2007, will anchor the Carolina Crossroads Music Theatre and Entertainment District and will feature country, pop, beach, and gospel music acts. For more information, visit www.carolinacrossroads.com.

Octagon is the world's largest sports and entertainment representation and marketing agency with global expertise in consulting, athletes & personalities, event management, property representation, marketing solutions, licensing and merchandising and talent procurement. As part of The Interpublic Group (NYSE:IPG), one of the world's leading organizations of advertising agencies and marketing services, Octagon employs more than 1,000 people in 60 offices around the world. For further information please visit: www.octagon.com.

les atkins PR, Inc.

Roanoke Rapids, NC

Excellence Beyond the Ordinary!

Les Atkins: 252-532-0073

More information:

http://www.roanokerapidsnc.com/entertainment/Pressrelease.htm
http://www.carolinacrossroads.com/connection/press_release/billiard.pdf

Jeanette Lee and George Breedlove Capture 2007 "Skins" Billiards Championship Crown

2007-02-15T04:46:00.000-08:00

"We couldn’t believe it at first," Jeanette Lee and George Breedlove said moments after claiming the 2007 Skins Billiards Championship title. "We were so focused on the table we didn’t know how much we’d won until it was announced." The Scotch Doubles paired team won the entire $40,000 prize purse with a spectacular series of runouts.

The event was held February 10 at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA. Four champions and legends of the sport were brought together in a shootout with a pressure-cooker format for the $40,000 in prize money. The purse is the largest of any Scotch Doubles invitational event in the world, and the winners claimed one of the most coveted titles in pool – Skins Billiards Champions.

The field included top stars of the sport. Johnny Archer, 2006 International Champion of Champions; Jeanette Lee, World Games Gold Medalist; Jennifer Barretta, 2006 Empress Cup Champion; and George Breedlove, Viking Tour Champion. Archer and Barretta, who were paired as the other team, went home emply-handed.

The one-match Skins Championship was nonetheless a nailbiter from the beginning. Lee and Breedlove battled their way through a head-to-head struggle that featured flawless runouts and exquisite safety play. Archer and Barretta won the first two games and looked poised to take the first Skin worth $3,000. But Lee and Breedlove ultimately won the first Skin and went on to take the next two Skins, which brought their winnings to $33,000 at that point in the match. The last Skin worth $7,000 went into a one game Sudden Death after both teams failed to take three games in a row. Archer and Barretta were on a runout in the Sudden Death when Barretta jawed the 6 ball in the corner pocket. Lee and Breedlove quickly cleaned the table and made it a shut out by claiming the entire $40,000 purse and the Championship title.

The SKINS BILLIARDS CHAMPIONSHIP is regarded as the supreme test of skill in the sport. The tournament format, somewhat similar to Skins in golf, is the most demanding test of 9-Ball skill in professional billiards. Some players remarked that the pressure of the SKINS format made each and every game like a hill-hill championship match. Two Scotch Doubles teams compete against each other in a match, with twelve games to a match, and a team must win three games in a row to win a Skin. There are four Skins to a match, with each Skin worth larger amounts of money, and money not won in a Skin carries over to the next Skin. The prize fund of $40,000 was open for grabs to the team that won the most Skins.

The standing-room-only crowd gave Jeanette Lee and George Breedlove a rousing ovation when they claimed the winner’s crown. The trophy and the winner’s check were presented by Springfield civic leaders and Olhausen Billiards, and Viking Cues presented two one-of-a-kind cues inscribed "2007 Skins Billiards Champion." The presentation brought another round of cheers from the audience.

In addition to the fine tournament site at the Basketball Hall of Fame, the event was sponsored by Olhausen Billiards, Viking Cues, Aramith Super Pro Balls, Simonis Cloth, Chameleon Rack, Liguria International, Original Italian Slate, Ozone Billiards, Silver Cup Chalk, Hilton Garden Inn, Springfield Business Improvement District, Massachusetts’ Pioneer Valley and massvaction.com. The event was produced by Matt Braun and Bettiane Braun of Billiards International, Ltd. in association with Allen Hopkins. The event was taped by ESPN for a 1-hour telecast April 5 at 7 PM.

Photo courtesy of Seth Kaye

Click here for tournament payouts.

More information:

http://www.azbilliards.com/2000storya.cfm?storynum=4145

Kiss of the spider woman: Talking hustles with the most famous woman in pool

2006-10-05T04:48:00.000-07:00

Quick. Name a professional male pool player.

Minnesota Fats?

Fatty -- pool arcana: the alleged father of soul chanteuse Etta James -- passed away a decade ago.

The guy on the old Miller Lite commercial?

Sorry. Steve Mizerak was his name and he too recently left us.

Now name a female pro. In all likelihood, your synapses fired quickly and you invoked Jeanette Lee, doing business as "the Black Widow." Lee, 35, gets more face time on ESPN than any other athlete this side of T.O. And, as a result, she is the sport's most recognized figure.

As all but a handful of her contemporaries (male or female) still struggle to make a decent living -- at least on the books -- the Black Widow continues to spin a web of appearances and endorsements. Though she's been curiously absent from the new International Pool Tour, she is seemingly everywhere else.

She appears at corporate outings. She recently returned from a USO-style trip to U.S. Navy bases in South Korea, Japan and Hawaii. She has her own clothing line. She stages a fantasy camp. She just launched an on-line game, "Black Widow Billiards" on King.com.

Between matches at the International Speed Tour event in L.A., she took time to chat with SI.com.

SI.com: Did anyone play you close on one the military bases?

Lee: There are some good players. In their world they're pretty good, but then you gotta wake them up a little bit. [Laughs.] But really it was light-spirited. I wanted people to walk away happy.

SI.com: How are you feeling about pool more generally? Are we really seeing this "renaissance" or is it wishful thinking?

Lee: I really, really am seeing it. And I'm not just saying that because I'm trying to be positive. In Korea, the amount of coverage and sponsorship and media was incredible. Especially with women, I see it. It used to be that when I went into a poolroom it was maybe five percent women. Now it's easily 40 percent.

SI.com: To what do you attribute this?

Lee: I think it's the women on ESPN. I don't think it's just me. I wouldn't be there if the WPBA weren't there. What it's done is given us credibility and shown that pool isn't just a back-room, smoky hustling thing.

SI.com: Speaking of men and women, how do you match up against your husband and pro George Breedlove?

Lee: It depends on who's playing well that day. He, on his best day, beats me on my best day.

SI.com: You were raised in New York but now live in Indiana. Seven-foot coin-op "barboxes" are obviously popular in the Midwest. Have the smaller tables grown on you?

Lee: I've played in some bar table tournaments and they're a lot more fun than I thought. When I was recovering from my [spinal] surgery, I actually played in a local league on bar tables and lost my first couple of games. It's a different monster. The rails are more forgiving, but there's a lot of moving around clusters.

SI.com: If I could be so forward, when was the last time you played for money?

Lee: I played with Rick Reilly! I had a wig and a prosthetic nose and everything! You know, I want a competitive [match-up], I don't want to beat some poor local guy out of a few bucks.

SI.com: You're that competitive?

Lee: You know, on king.com, if you beat me sometimes, you can win $200 and an autographed certificate. They gave me a stack and I'm like, "I'm not going to sign all these! Not this many people are going to beat me! You're going to have to turn me upside down and have me sign this in blood!"

SI.com: Are we going to see you on the IPT?

Lee: I was told I had to qualify.

SI.com: At this stage in your career, how much better can you get? How much is muscle memory and sustaining a level of play versus improvement?

Lee: Oh, I still think I have a lot to learn. I don't think Allison and Karen [Fisher and Corr, her top rivals] are going to get a lot better. I think they're a good 85 to 90 percent of their potential. I feel like I'm at 60 percent. They've been playing since they were like 7 years old. They've been trained. They have perfect fundamentals. Now it's what they have left to work with. With me, I've got a lot knowledge. I've got heart. I don't have the consistency -- I'm not playing as much as I used to.

But I can honestly say I love pool as much or more than I ever have. I don't know that a lot of people at my level can say that. My husband is a great player, but he says, "I'm in it for the money." For me, the money is great but I am a pool addict. I love to play. I love the game. I love that art. So I feel that the things that have slowed me down -- nine surgeries, motherhood, and leading the sport -- aren't going to now. I can't live without getting better.

Photo: Evan Agostini/Getty Images

More information:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/jon_wertheim/10/05/black.widow.qa/index.html

International Billiards Champion Jeanette Lee Launches Black Widow Billiards On King.Com

2006-10-02T04:49:00.001-07:00

Los Angeles - October 2, 2006 - Named one of the Sexiest Athletes in the World by ESPN and winner of seventeen WPBA titles, Jeanette Lee - The Black Widow - is climbing into a new Web with the release of King.coms Black Widow Billiards a skill-based casual game.

The launch of Black Widow Billiards features an online tournament hosted by Lee on Tuesday, October 3rd from 2-3:30pm PDT at King.com , which is the first in a series of tournaments with The Black Widow. Fans will have the opportunity to go head-to-head with the sports icon as she hones her skills in preparation for the International Speed Pool Championship in Las Vegas on October 4th. Skilled players who defeat The Black Widow will win $200 and an autographed certificate.

Lee comments, â€œI am excited about the opportunity to bring my love of pool to King.com where people from around the globe can enjoy the excitement and intensity of Black Widow Billiards.

Pool is one of the most popular casual games on the Web so Black Widow Billiards will be tapping into a mass audience of enthusiasts. A popular social outlet and an excellent way to compete, skill-based casual games on the Internet are a natural extension for sports fans. Similar to the sport itself, online pool appeals to gamers because it tests the strategy and precision of those who play.

Lee Adds Fun to Balancing a Career and Family

Along with the release of her new game and competition schedule, Lee also has been busy touring with the U.S. Navy. Lee just returned from South Korea, Japan and Hawaii where she spent time teaching troops "tips and tricks" on how to be a great pool player and challenging them to matches.

Between her hectic travel schedule and caring for a young daughter and a HUGE PET, Lee finds it important to maintain a balance among her philanthropic commitments, family and career, which is why she often relaxes by playing casual games.

Lee adds, Todays women deal with various obstacles in their efforts to maintain a healthy balance of work, life and personal growth priorities, and I feel its both worthwhile and necessary to incorporate fun just for you activities into life. For me, one of lifes simple pleasures is playing games online.

Women dominate the casual gaming world as shown by the more than 65 percent of our players who are women, says Toby Rowland, co-founder and co-CEO of King.com. Like many of our players, Jeanette juggles a family, career and also enjoys playing games online in her free-time. We are delighted to bring her skills and talent to online pool games and offer our players the chance to go cue to cue with The Black Widow.

Where to Play

Black Widow Billiards is featured at King.com and at Yahoo! Games.

The first Black Widow Billiards tournament, where fans can challenge Lee to a match, can be accessed via Yahoo! Pool or King.com . Players who defeat The Black Widow will receive $200 and an autographed certificate.

"Black Widow" takes marketing cue

2005-03-09T04:51:00.000-08:00

By the norms of sports marketing, Jeanette Lee should be squarely behind the eight ball. Female athletes, compared to males, have a harder time getting endorsement deals. And as a pro billiards star, Lee is in a sport that hasn't produced a household name since Minnesota Fats.

But like Rudolph Wanderone Jr., who starting going by Minnesota Fats after Jackie Gleason played a character with that name in the 1961 movie The Hustler, Lee, 33, has a marketable moniker. As the self-styled "Black Widow," she appears poised to become one of the most marketable women in sports.

"When you walk into a hospitality suite and she's there, she's instantly recognizable," says Jeff Urban, sports marketing director for Gatorade, which used Lee for its corporate hospitality at the Super Bowl. "Will she be the next Serena or Mia? No, probably not. But she's really making an impact."

That includes appearing at about 25 corporate outings, at up to $10,000 a pop, so far in 2005 — up from about 20 last year.

Says Kevin Lee, no relation, who staged a sports-themed awards banquet for Cisco Systems featuring Lee: "It's a bit of a stretch to consider what she does as a sport, but she's attractive, well-spoken."

Usually at corporate events, Lee shoots pool. At first, she was nervous. But, she says, not anymore: "They don't need to see the trickiest shot. There are trick shots which I see as the easiest on the planet but that really impress them."

Next week in Las Vegas, Lee stages her first fantasy camp. The three-day "Black Widow Experience" costs campers $2,950. But, Lee says, "At many sports fantasy camps, the celebrity just comes in at the beginning and the end. Here, they're all going to get to play a lot with Jeanette Lee."

John Rousseau, a Phoenix business consultant, will attend to "learn something." And he clearly admires Lee: "With her talent, she could do a TV talk show."

Lee hosted a cable TV pilot for a celebrity billiards series that recently aired on Bravo and is shopping a reality TV billiards series.

She has her own downloadable video game for cell phones, will tour U.S. military bases in Europe this summer and this month gets her own DVD animated feature. That DVD, her agent Tom George says, is meant to lead to spinoff products for the character she plays in it — "a globe-trotting pool hustler by day, super CIA operative/martial arts expert by night."

Don't laugh. The Women's Professional Billiards Association tour includes fewer than 10 events, and first-place prize money can run under $10,000. But Lee, partly through made-for-TV events, manages to draw TV exposure many pro athletes might envy. She appeared for more than 40 hours on ESPN or ESPN2 last year.

And Lee got plenty of close-ups. Mike May of the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association says at least 40.7 million Americans play billiards, and 63% are males. He says Lee might benefit from being in a familiar sport that might become a fad, like TV poker. And, he says, there's this: "Sex can sell in billiards, just like in other sports."

Bob Dorfman, who analyzes athletes' marketability for the San Francisco-based Pickett Advertising agency, says when "channel-surfing and (I) see her, I stop. I'd never watch pool otherwise. I'm watching her more than marveling at her athletic talent."

Amidst "the paucity of marketable female athletes," Dorfman says, "all the top female endorsers have an element of sex appeal." Lee, he says, is a natural for shampoo ads — "great hair."

The nickname helps, says Bob Williams, a Chicago talent broker who links athletes and marketers. "Having a nickname like Tiger, Shaq or the Black Widow lends itself to advertising and creates an instant identity beyond sports," he says.

Lee got the nickname from a friend a few years after picking up pool at age 18. Lee, who is married with a baby and two stepdaughters and lives in Indianapolis, suggests it helps create a colorful image: "It almost gives me the freedom to be as bad as I want to be."

Michael Hiestand, Sports Business, USA Today
More information:

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