About Jeanette
Biography
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Lee's first victory came in 1994 at the Baltimore Billiard Classic, the debut event of the WPBA season. Lee followed up her first professional title with another win at the tour's next event, the Kasson Twin Cities Classic, and went on to claim two more titles at the BCA San Francisco Classic and U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships. She capped off her sophomore season with a win at the Connelly WPBA National Championships in the tour finale for five victories and was named "Player of the Year" by Billiards Digest.
Lee's success continued in 1995 as she captured titles at the Olhausen Los Angeles Classic and the Brunswick New York Classic, and was nominated by the WPBA for the "Sports Person of the Year" award; a nomination she would receive again in 1997, before winning the award in 1998. Jeanette would claim three more tour stops during the next two seasons, winning the BCA Charlotte Classic in 1996 and posting back-to-back victories at the Hubler Cues Nashville Classic and the Olhausen San Diego Classic in 1997. Lee's spectacular performance in 1997 earned her "Player of the Year" honors by Pool & Billiards Magazine.
In 1998, Jeanette would post three more victories en route to being named the "WPBA Sportsperson of the Year." She claimed another trio of wins during the 1999 season, including the Tournament of Champions. In 2001, Lee not only won the BCA Open Championship, but also took home the Gold medal for the United States at the 2001 World Games. Lee claimed the Tournament of Champions again in 2003 and added two more titles in 2004, with wins at the Cuetec Cues Florida Classic and the Women's Trick Shot Magic World Championship.
Yet, throughout Jeanette's flourishing career and unprecedented success, she suffered from chronic pain, which stemmed from her scoliosis. By August 2005, Jeanette had undergone a total of nine surgeries to the back, neck, and shoulder. In spite of her medical challenges, Lee continues to achieve in the game of pool and other ventures outside of the pro billiards tour. She is celebrated as an inspiring leader and has served as the National Spokesperson for The Scoliosis Association, Inc. for the last decade. She also serves as a trustee or the Women's Sports Foundation.
Lee's beautiful and deadly game, underscored through her nickname "The Black Widow," has attracted attention away from the pool table as well. She has been featured on ESPN's list of Sexiest Female Athletes in the World, in Esquire's Ten Women We Love and among Aloette Cosmetics Dozen Most Attractive Women Athletes. Jeanette has made television appearances on Arli$$, Best Damn Sports Show Period, Entertainment Tonight, Extra!, Hard Copy, HBO Real Sports, Late Show with Craig Kilborn, Today, The Late Show with David Letterman and Live with Regis & Kelly. She was also featured in an ESPN SportsCenter commercial and made a cameo appearance in the Walt Disney Picture The Other Sister.
The combination of Lee's pool prowess, engaging personality, beauty and mystique has led to Lee's renowned reputation as the most famous pool player of her generation. She is unmistakably a fan favorite and continues to dazzles audiences with her pool artistry and arsenal of trick shots. Golf Digest proclaims Lee "an absolute show stopper," noting that "she was the star at our U.S. Open party filled with Donald Trump, Carson Daly and other celebrities."
World champion pool player, celebrity, and philanthropist Jeanette Lee recently announced in March 2007, plans to build the first Black Widow Billiards at Carolina Crossroads. The two-story, 20,000 square foot facility will feature 24 pool tables, a full-service pro-shop, restaurant, VIP rooms. Scheduled to open in 2008, Black Widow Billiards will be equipped for televised tournaments, as well as charity and corporate events.
Jeanette Lee currently resides in Indianapolis, Indiana with her husband George Breedlove, a top ranked men's pro billiards player and owner of Midwest Outdoor Products, their three year-old adopted daughter Cheyenne Lee Breedlove, whom they have had since her birth, and John Kang, a fifteen year-old New York native who they obtained legal guardianship over in February 2007. Morgan and Olivia Breedlove, Jeanette’s two step-daughters, are currently attending universities in Indiana.
