The Black Widow
A Memoir
A candid and moving autobiography by the 'Black Widow' of billiards
Jeanette Lee was 18 years old when she walked into a New York City pool hall and became enamored by the elegant geometry of the game. Before long, she was an unmistakable figure on the international competition circuit, dressed head-to-toe in black, stalking the billiards table and gazing down her cue as if tracking her prey.
In this new memoir, the woman nicknamed 'The Black Widow' opens up about her legendary career and the rich, unpredictable life she's woven around it. Lee details her upbringing in a Korean-American household in Brooklyn, her single-minded drive to reach the pinnacle of her sport, and her unlikely entry into the realm of mainstream celebrity in an era where female athletes rarely got their share of the limelight.
Lee also reflects on her lifelong struggle with scoliosis, which necessitated over twenty operations during her playing career; her public battle with Stage 4 ovarian cancer; and the communities that gave her strength throughout.
Written with warmth and candor, this is the definitive story of a true icon.
Jeanette Lee is one of the most decorated and notable players in billiards history. Nicknamed "The Black Widow", she became the top-ranked female pool player in the world during the 1990s and has won over 30 national and international titles. Lee lives in Tampa with her three daughters.
Dana Benbow is a sports reporter at the Indianapolis Star.
