Sport: Lady with a Cue

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With her husband (since 1950), U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant Vernon Greenleaf,* 44, himself a middling pocket billiard† player, Masako arrived in San Francisco last December. After Cochran saw her effortless power and astonishing ambidexterity, he said respectfully: "She's a pistol!" Masako joined her old coach Matsuyama on the tournament roster.

As Masako well knows, no game is tenser than solemn tournament billiards: cold-blooded concentration and steady nerves are demanded. Masako Katsura has learned to isolate herself on the borders of the little 5-by-10-ft. world of green felt. Says she: "I am alone at the table."

Playing her opening match last week against seven-time Pocket Billiard Champion Irving Crane, Masako suffered from big-time jitters. Her spectacular shots touched off polite patters of applause, but more often she "sold the farm," i.e., left setups for Crane, or flubbed "minnies," i.e., easy shots. In 57 innings, she lost respectably, 50 to 42. His agony over, Sergeant Greenleaf rushed from the stands, bussed his wife. For the first time that evening Masako flashed her gold-toothed smile: "Next time, hokay, eh?" Masako looked very "hokay" to Old Master Hoppe. Said he: "She just needs a little championship experience over here. She's got everything else."

* Hoppe's own record at balkline: a run of 622. At straight-rail billiards, he could go on until exhausted. * No kin to 13-time Pocket Billiard Champion Ralph Greenleaf. † Genteel name for pool.

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