Someone at BusinessWeek recently decided that short sellers are hot, and something should be done to acknowledge that hotness beyond staring into the dreamy eyes of (a picture of) David EinPorn and self-gratifying. But it’s hard to write an article with only one hand so they went with a slideshow instead. It’s called “The Wizards of Short Selling,” which is apt because while long investing involves diligent research and fundamental analysis, short selling involves immersing oneself in the dark arts and sacrificing live goats following a bestial ceremony.
All the usual suspects are there (a group of people who, when the moon is full, show up to their respective trading floors in full attire, i.e. robes and those pointy hats with the stars). You’ve got your Tice, you’re got your Paulson, you’ve got your Einhorn, you’ve got your Ackman, and of course you’ve got your Chanos. Additionally, you’ve got your deceased Winslow Jones, who is often summoned in candle-lit Ouija board sessions. Sadly, a few pretty important names o’ the short selling game were left off the list, which we’ve taken the liberty of including after the jump.
Merlin: best known for shorting the Mongolian yak market at the end of Attila the Hun’s reign; pair trade going long English market and short French market ahead of Waterloo; Whole Foods.
Dumbeldore: VCRs.
David Blaine: watch and learn (lookin’ at you, Ackman).
The Wizards of Short Selling [BusinessWeek]
I’m so happy you included the faux Blaine video. ‘Tis truly a treat!
“hard to write an article with only one hand”
i dont get it
The ‘encased in ice in TimesSq’ nonsense would have been more impressive if
a) the ice wasn’t a foot away from his body, and
b) they weren’t pumping warm air on him.
@big r
it refers to the self-gratification.
What about Rincewind?
where is David Rocker and Marc Cohodes in the Short Players Hall of Fame?
They are two of the very best. Rockers struggle with Iomega, Lernout & Hauspie and AOL were some of the finest.
What about Manual Asensio? Flies under the radar, thoughtful and aggressive.
Nathan Rothschild actually pulled off that pre-Waterloo trade, in the sovereign bond markets, cause he got the news before the London papers. Baller as shit.
Nathan Rothschild actually pulled off that pre-Waterloo trade, in the sovereign bond markets, cause he got the news before the London papers. Baller as shit.
Good stuff Bess!
Might be a bad day to throw the heat though…everyone’s pretty much out to lunch. Save your arm for earnings…
Given the history of BW covers, this may be the bull sign some have been waiting for. Seriously, adulation for the bulls usually occurs at the end of a bull trend and vice versa.
Sold short- Kevin Davis plays the bagpipes as the MF Global ship sinks under the waves his masterful f***up
The definitive parody of Blainology remains South Park’s.
“Your magic is old-fashioned, Jesus.”
I knew the David Blaine video wasnt real the second he popped onto the baby video. He’s so fake. Why does anyone believe his magic?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5F5gTTUj1c0
IF it’s not on Fox Business News, then it is flippant and shouldn’t be on DB either Bess.