Billiards pro Jeanette Lee
By Kathryn Bender, Star-Bulletin

She'd skillfully lure her prey, waiting for the right time to move in for the kill.

Like many serious budding billiards players, Jeanette Lee, now 25, made some real money in dank pool halls.

With smarts to go with her fashion-model face and figure, it was almost too easy to play the naive girl role. She'd dump a couple games while charming her opponent - and then ruthlessly empty his wallet, sinking ball after ball for hours.

"When I started gambling, my greed got a hold of me," says Lee, who is in town for this weekend's Cuetec Cues Honolulu Classic 9-Ball Tournament. "I practiced less. My whole thing was about how to reel in the next fish. How am I going to trick this person? Regardless of the fact that he just got his paycheck, and that he would go home with no money and his daughter might not get school clothes."

Sure, hustling hustlers is part of what competitive pool is all about. But Lee didn't enjoy it. "I'm a Christian. I lost respect for myself," she says. "I asked myself, 'What happened to the young woman who loved to play pool?' I'm not saying I love money less now, but respect for myself was more important."

After becoming one of pool's top money-winners and webbing Falcon Cues as a major sponsor, the Black Widow doesn't need to find suckers anymore, anyway.

Lee was considered a bit cocky by some as a Women's Professional Billiards Association rookie in 1993. Her ability caught up with her flamboyant attitude the next year, when she stung the tour for five victories on her way to Player of the Year honors.

Although some might not like her style, she is held in high regard throughout the pool world - and not just because of her obvious marketing attributes. Lee made herself into one of the best players in the world through sheer hard work.

"I'd say it's practice and determination. She's probably the first to come in, start at the very bottom and make it to the top," says Kelly Oyama, another touring pro and owner of a billiards club in Hilo called "Big Mama Oyama's."

And Lee did it fast. She first played billiards only seven years ago, and became obsessed.

"I couldn't breathe without pool," says Lee, who despite suffering from serious back problems since childhood, once practiced 37 consecutive hours before friends literally dragged her home. "I was smart in school ('math, art and lunch') and I did well in other sports ('fencing, soccer and handball' before a back operation at age 13). But I never had the passion for anything like I do for pool.

"It's the same thing as falling in love," she adds. "You can't put your finger on it. A guy might be handsome, smart and funny. But there are a thousand guys who are like that. You don't decide it's all you want to eat, sleep, talk and drink about. It just happens."

Speaking of love, it happened to the Black Widow last year when she met the Flamethrower - George Breedlove of the men's pro tour. After three dates, he proposed, and she said yes. They were married last January.

"Believe, it or not, we do get to spend about 60 percent of our time together," says Breedlove, who is also here. "But when we're at each other's tournaments, we don't coach. She plays her game, and I play my game."

Breedlove does help handle Lee's business commitments, giving her more time to practice.

"I've always been willing to work harder," says Lee. "The thing I try to remember is whenever I'm eating, sleeping, hanging out at the beach, or doing whatever else, there are thousands of people playing pool. And in a year, one of them might beat me."

Which would be totally unacceptable for the Black Widow.

"I don't think there's anyone who doesn't like to win. When we played cards, when we played Monopoly as kids, I always wanted to win. I do ask a lot of myself ...," Lee says. "It's just my nature. I like competition."

Because of pool's popularity with young adults, especially women, she is becoming an icon and a familiar face on ESPN.

Lee has appeared on MTV and been featured in Sports Illustrated and People. "I had very good timing. Pool is growing faster than any of us can keep up with. It's an honor for me to help promote the sport. I want to show that it's a family game anyone can play. And it's affordable. It's not just for old men anymore."

And what would the Black Widow be doing if she hadn't discovered billiards?

"I'd be an awesome housewife and elementary school teacher," says the woman with long black hair and black fingernails, wearing all black clothing.

Just another old-fashioned girl.