Rodney Morris and Jaiden Hess
Though unable to physically appear at the latest tournament that was organized and held for her benefit, Jeanette Lee, the Black Widow, arguably the most recognizable name in billiard sports, did make a video-call appearance at Janet Atwell’s Borderline Billiards in Bristol, TN on Saturday, April 17. In the latest of an ongoing series of Black Widow Legacy Tournaments, organized by her fellow professionals and legions of fans all across the country, Lee explained to those who had gathered in Borderline Billiards to help her as she battles ovarian cancer, that she will continue to fight and that efforts to help her and her daughters have not gone unnoticed.
“The support makes a difference,” she told the assembled crowd, who, as they had done a week earlier in Florida, stopped what they were doing to listen to her on the large screen that had been set up in Atwell’s room for the purpose. “You guys are just lifting me up and I will kick this cancer.”
Two days after undergoing a related operation, she explained to the crowd that she would have loved to be there in person, but that traveling on an airplane for her was just too dangerous.
“But I love you guys,” she said. “I’m so thankful and I’m looking forward to watching these matches.”
Lee, as well as those at the venue and any who watched the live stream were treated to a number of entertaining pool matches, not the least of which was a true double elimination set of final matches in which “Rocket” Rodney Morris, who came from the loss side, was defeated by a 16-year-old competitor by the name of Jaiden Hess. Earlier, he’d been sent to the loss side by a 14-year-old junior by the name of Precilia Kinsley. The event drew 106 entrants, including a number of strong area competitors like Kia Burwell, Reid Vance, Cole Lewis, Eric Roberts, Lisa Cossette, Ryan Fossum, Scott Howard and Corey Morphew (among others, Morris included).
“Rocket” was, of course, playing with an A+++ handicap and throughout most of the tournament was being required to win at least twice as many games as the opponents he ended up facing in individual matches. He got an opening round “bye” and won just a single winners’ side match before running into 14-year-old Precilia Kinsley, who sent him to the loss side. Nine matches later, he returned from the loss side and though he took the opening set of the true double elimination final against Jaiden Hess, Hess came back and fought to double hill in the second set, before dropping the final 9-ball and claiming the event title.
In spite of the handicap, “Rocket” was impressed by the youngsters he faced in this event.
“These kids are getting some good coaching, good teaching,” he said. “Of course, they have a long way to go, learning about the cue ball (among other things), but they have got the passion.”
“Somebody’s out there,” he added. “keeping them focused, instilling that love of the game. And then, that boy, Jaiden, ends up beating me in the finals, and we’ve got ourselves a couple of lifers now.”
Janet Atwell and Rodney Morris
Morris also had high praise for Atwell and the Legacy Tournament she’d organized to benefit her fellow professional.
“It was a very emotional weekend,” said Morris, who’d been able to speak to Jeanette just prior to her appearance on the big screen to talk to all of those present. “Everybody did a great job.”
“Janet was amazing,” he added. “She is top-notch, just a very genuine person.”
According to Atwell, she will be hosting another benefit for Lee in the future, at a date to be announced. She credited her landlords, Jeff and Terri Gregory, with donating $2,000, $1,000 of which will go towards added-money for the next event.
“Counting online donations, local donations and everything raised during the event,
Atwell wrote later, “we raised $16,867.”
There will be another Black Widow Legacy Tournament in Florida on the weekend of May 8-9, the second to be organized by Jeannie Seaver and Sonya Chbeeb. The Black Widow Open Benefit Event will be hosted by Stroker’s Billiards in Palm Harbor, FL.
“With the support of hundreds of people like you,” the Black Widow had noted before the event at Borderline Billiards got underway, “I don’t think this cancer has a chance.”
