Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer ducks for cover

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Jerry Yang hasn’t enjoyed having to fend off Microsoft’s takeover advances. But unless the Yahoo chief executive speaks Hungarian, we doubt Yang was the guy throwing eggs at his Microsoft counterpart today.

There’s a priceless video circulating on the Interweb of Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer ducking for cover during a lecture in Budapest, Hungary.

Ballmer had just started his talk at Budapesti Corvinus Egyetem, a university, by asking the students how many still had exams to take, when someone in the audience stood up and shouted ‘Hey, you!’ The guy pointed his finger at Ballmer, said something about Microsoft causing damage to the Hungarian people, then demanded that Ballmer ‘Give that money back right now.’

The Microsoft honcho, who has remained quick on his feet during the Yahoo takeover saga, took shelter behind a lectern as the protester tossed his chicken grenades. All three missed, making delicious splatting sounds.

When the last egg was tossed, Ballmer emerged from the lectern to glare. The guy, muttering as he was escorted out, drew a laugh when the crowd caught sight of the writing on the back of his shirt: ‘Microsoft = Corruption’.

But the biggest laugh was reserved for Ballmer, who scratched his famously bald head and quipped,’It was a friendly disruption.’ Hmm. Maybe if you were Hungarian that would be hi-laaarious.

‘That broke my train of thought,’ Ballmer said, before continuing his talk.

-- Chris Gaither