To Recap: Ballmer + Yang = World's Worst Dealmakers

Kevin Maney shakes his head: I'm reading the front-page Wall Street Journal story full of juicy details about the back and forth between Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang, and the big picture that emerges is that both of them are just horrendous negotiators and deal makers. You have to wonder if these guys could haggle for a Hummel at a flea market without screwing it up.

If you run with the pop psychology that people ultimately do things to get the results they really want, even if it's not what they consciously think they want -- then neither Yang nor Ballmer ever really wanted to do this merger. You get the impression from the story that all along Ballmer only wanted the search business, and Yang couldn't stomach becoming part of Microsoft.

Note to my friend, dogged reporter, and the story's co-author, Rob Guth: It's the Detroit Red Wings, not Redwings. I guess I'll have to take you to a hockey game sometime...