You rememberJim Balsillie, don't you? The leering Daddy Warbucks look-alike who tried to sell season tickets to the Hamilton, Ontario, Predators and caused Nashvillians to gnash their teeth back in 2007? It was his "damn hands" that the famous placard referred to when it was proudly held aloft by then-Governor Phil Bredeson at an arena rally that summer.

Now Jim Balsillie has stepped down as co-chairman and co-chief executive officer of Research in Motion, Canada's largest company measured in terms of market value. Mike Lazaridis, who founded RIM 20 years ago, is also leaving those posts but will stay on as vice-chairman.

Just five weeks ago Balsilie gave no indication to investment analysts that he would leave despite RIM's plummeting fortunes. RIM's BlackBerry now has about 9% of the wireless market, down from about 50% two years ago. Shareholders have been demanding Balsillie's ouster.

Are these crocodile tears falling on my Android keypad? You'd better believe it.