This Variety headline for their story on the "bidding war" between Time Warner and Sony for MGM has the folks at TW executing a classic, if dangerous, negotiation ploy: the extreme low-ball. "What, the Japanese are offering you five billion? They probably mean yen, that's like ten dollars American. Fuck that, we'll do you a favor and give you five million. Take it or leave it, I got Viacom on the other line and they're offering to sell us Paramount for a hundred dollars and a bag of hammers."

UPDATE: Naturally, the story and headline have been updated.

• Lion bidding war breaks out [Variety, sub. req'd.]
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• Filthiest, Simultaneously Masturbation-and Bestiality-Invoking Variety Headline Of The Day [Defamer]

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