Yahoo Run

...we will be coming back fighting. The Wall Street Journal reports today that Microsoft is planning another run at Yahoo"and this time they wont be going it alone. Theyre actively looking for partners to dismantle Yahoo. Current candidates include News Corp. (aka Nick on Y&P) and Time Warner (we may call him . . . Tim. Hes Alan (AOL)s dad).

This isnt exactly good news for already-beleaguered Yahoo chief, Jerry Yang. But the WSJ article presents a very different image of Yang than the one portrayed in recent lawsuits and power plays at the company.

Carl Icahn and several other stockholders have gone to great lengths to show Yangs personal animosity towards Microsoft, which they believed was the main impediment to a deal. However, the WSJ article and its inside sources show a Yang who tried to drive a favorable bargain for his company and was ultimately very disappointed in the way the negotiations turned out:

When Mr. Ballmer explained that Microsoft was withdrawing its offer, Mr. Yangs face fell, according to a person who was present.

Microsoft and Yahoo have already been in talks with News Corp and Time Warner/AOL throughout this year. Will one of them finally be able to reach a deal"and if so, who will be left standing?

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