MCI SMACKDOWN

Regardless of who wins the battle, the ongoing face-off between Qwest Communications' Richard Notebaert and Verizon Communications' Ivan Seidenberg over who gets to buy MCI has provided more than its expected share of excitement. Notebaert has put a very public face on his company's quest (no pun intended), and Seidenberg last week shrugged off the corporate cloak to do direct battle, if only by letter. It harkens back to the days when men such as William McGowan in telephony and John Malone in the cable industry were outspoken proponents of their commercial interests. Of course, the recent conviction of Bernie Ebbers proves that personality only carries you so far, but neither Notebaert nor Seidenberg could be accused of charming his way to the top. Both are solid citizens of the Bell community who began the old-fashioned way as hard laborers and won business degrees as they climbed the corporate ladder. Notebaert took on a tough job and has stuck it out, without ducking the inevitable criticism of his cost-cutting. Seidenberg has been a quiet visionary, taking Verizon where no other telecom company has been willing to go. You can disagree with their policies, but their purpose and passion command respect.