A reliable source has passed along a legal document in the ongoing lawsuit between Google and Microsoft over Googles hiring of Kai-Fu Lee. The document is the Declaration of Mark Lucovsky in the case. Lucovsky was a distinguished engineer at Microsoft who defected to Google in November of 2004. His statement makes for some pretty interesting reading, to say the least.
The statement reads in part:
Prior to joining Google, I set up a meeting on or about November 11, 2004 with Microsofts CEO Steve Ballmer to discuss my planned departure .At some point in the conversation Mr. Ballmer said: Just tell me its not Google. I told him it was Google.
At that point, Mr. Ballmer picked up a chair and threw it across the room hitting a table in his office. Mr. Ballmer then said: Fucking Eric Schmidt is a fucking pussy. Im going to fucking bury that guy, I have done it before, and I will do it again. Im going to fucking kill Google. .
Just FYI
The statement reads in part:
Prior to joining Google, I set up a meeting on or about November 11, 2004 with Microsofts CEO Steve Ballmer to discuss my planned departure .At some point in the conversation Mr. Ballmer said: Just tell me its not Google. I told him it was Google.
At that point, Mr. Ballmer picked up a chair and threw it across the room hitting a table in his office. Mr. Ballmer then said: Fucking Eric Schmidt is a fucking pussy. Im going to fucking bury that guy, I have done it before, and I will do it again. Im going to fucking kill Google. .
Just FYI
FYI Ballmer nearly crippled Microsoft.
Disregarding the absurd discussion I just need to add:
I dislike a lot of Ballmer's legacy as much as the next guy, mainly based on anecdotes from people who used to work for him that I work with now, but while he made some obvious errors, to his credit he did in fact kickstart Microsoft's venture into hardware. In fact he insisted on it to such a degree that he had a serious falling out with Bill Gates that wanted to stick to software, this lead to, among other things, the extremely successful 'Surface' line that is now being herald as the new flagship of Microsoft and even challenge Apple on their home turf, so he wasn't completely useless.