Photo By Lt. Jason Tross | Pro pool player Jeanette Lee tries to break an audience member’s concentration...... read more read more
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GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba -- International billiards icon Jeanette Lee, aka ‘The Black Widow,’ visited Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Feb. 26, to play challengers, give tips and spend time getting to know troopers.
Lee holds more than 30 professional billiards titles and formerly ranked #1 overall in the world. She appeared as the final opponent for Morale Welfare and Recreation’s billiards shoot-off. The top three contenders won their divisions over three nights playing at The Windjammer.
However, each fell to The Black Widow Saturday night.
Even though she gives her victims a chance, The Black Widow remains undefeated after challenges at more than 25 military bases around the world.
“I always give them the first break,” said Lee. “If they make the nine ball on the break, they win.”
Lee enjoys playing all challengers, but definitely has her favorites.
“Half the people want to play me just to say, ‘I played The Black Widow from ESPN - it was fun and she kicked my butt,’” Lee said with a smirk. “Then there’s others who are like, ‘nah, nah – I can beat her.’ And those are the most satisfying.”
Lee’s husband George Breedlove, also a world-champion pool player, joined her performance, Feb. 26, and again Feb. 27. Both players pulled fans from the audience to participate in trick shots – including Radio GTMO personality Dr. J and Joint Task Force Guantanamo deputy commander Brig. Gen. Samuel T. Nichols, who let The Black Widow shoot an eight ball being held in their mouths.
Lee and Breedlove came to do more than play pool. They came to connect with people. Lee touched troopers by sharing some personal experiences away from the pro tour at each show – like her battles with a debilitating birth condition and fertility.
“Anyone who has fought scoliosis and conception the way she did is a trooper,” said JTF Guantanamo Chaplain’s Assistant Air Force Staff Sgt. Archie Gerald. “It’s easy just to give up but she never did. She honestly fought tooth-and-nail for everything she wanted and at the end of her tenure, she became #1 in the game of pool. It’s inspiring and very relevant here.”
While Lee’s experiences resonated with audiences, she found similar themes with folks around the JTF.
“Just talking to people you can hear it,” said Lee “I hear people going through some [difficult] things here.”
Lee and Breedlove made their way to the Seaside Galley Sunday morning to reach a more personal level with JTF service members than they could at the performances. They listened to some of the challenges troopers and their families are facing here.
“I think you start getting into trouble when you say, ‘I know what you’re going through,’” said Lee. “No you don’t. It’s hard for me to imagine what people are going through out here. The only thing I can do, the only place I think I have, is through my experience and through my hardship.’’
Lee’s approach to billiards and life is one in the same – something she found in many of the troopers and families she met here.
“My attitude over all these experiences is to embrace what comes. When I say embrace I don’t mean be happy about it. When you accept it you can grow from it and move forward. If you are just fighting it – you can’t get through it,” explained Lee.
Having won nearly every title and tournament in her sport, The Black Widow said she isn’t necessarily moving on from pool, but looking for new ways to find personal reward in her professional life. She described visits like this as one of the last truly fulfilling aspects of her billiards career.
“It is an absolute honor to be here,” said Lee “It’s a great feeling to know I have something to contribute here.”
| Date Taken: | 03.04.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 03.07.2011 13:29 |
| Story ID: | 66636 |
| Location: | GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Web Views: | 222 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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