Monday, November 17, 2008

Jerry Yang Set to Step Down as Yahoo CEO ; SEC puts Cuban into the Penalty Box

Although there's no need to link the media stories blanketing the two headline stories, rule of thumb suggests that its good protocol insofar as ensuring that this blog's comments get noticed.

1. In all due respect, and without intending to be rude or discourteous, Jerry Yang was pulling on his wang when he thought that his return to the CEO office would help resuscitate Yahoo!'s business model. Even Carl Icahn figured out that Yang didn't have the gravitas that was needed in the current environment.

His notice of resignation should be seen as a bright spot to anyone that is actually in the position to take over the company. Given the current financing challenges, this will be remembered as one of the great "take unders" of the new economy.

2. Mark Cuban is one of the brashest, most opinionated remnants of the Internet Bubble Age. He's also one of the smartest, savviest entrepreneurs of this generation, as well as the prior generation--and perhaps the next generation. Unlike many that minted millions building net-cenric platforms and cashing out with big bucks, Cuban has a well-documented track record for plowing his money back into well thought out businesses.

OK. He's brash, and he's been tagged with more fines by the NBA than a combination of outspoken coaches and push the envelope players. He calls them as he sees them.

Our opinion is that the SEC's charges, alleging purported five year old insider trades made by Cuban five years are not only trumped, but begets a more important question: "What is the SEC doing investing its time and valuable resources in pusuing outdated actions against a basketball team owner, when they would seemingly have more important things to pursue?

OK. He's a deep pocket. And, he might be in a position to write a check for a few tens of millions that can otherwise help Uncle Sam pay for the hundreds of billions that Sam and Henry have allocated to bailing out banks and Wall Sreet firms.

But why aren't those SEC guys spending their time going after the hundreds of millions of dollars that bigger targets walked away with????

Enough said.

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