Yahoo Chief Executive Jerry Yang says Microsoft just isn’t interested in a full merger these days.

His comments, his most extensive to date on the Microsoft merger drama, back up what had been the talk around town — that chances of a full-fledged merger between the two had dimmed considerably. Yang, however, did signal his company remained open to a potential deal.

“We did not walk away from that proposal. Microsoft did,” Yang said during an on-stage interview at the D: All Things Digital conference.

“Microsoft is no longer interested in buying the company, and we are talking about other things. We definitely have to understand what they’re proposing…they clearly have an interest in Yahoo, and we need to understand more,” Yang said.

A source familiar with the situation said last week that Microsoft has proposed buying Yahoo’s search business and taking a minority stake in the Web pioneer, but has stopped stopping short of reinitiating full merger negotiations.

Judging from the Wall Street Journal, Yang’s comments on stage reflect what’s happening between par putts on the golf course.  It reports that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Yang played a round of golf over the weekend to discuss Yahoo’s search advertising business. But there was no indication that Microsoft still wanted to take over Yahoo.

Back onstage, meanwhile, Yang took some time to defend his track record after nearly one year as CEO and told the audience he was the right person for the job.

“I do think I am the best person to lead Yahoo,” Yang said.

Or, according to the New York Times… “Asked why he should be the leader to take the company forward, Mr. Yang said it was about his ‘passion’ and the fact that he still ‘bleeds purple,’ a reference to the distinctive color of the company’s logo.”

 Keep an eye on: 

• Havas Chairman Vincent Bollore said on Thursday he remained “calm” despite his latest failed attempt at securing two seats on the board of British rival Aegis (Reuters)
• The Wall Street Journal is about to step up its sports coverage, with the goal of turning its sports section into a “thinking man’s sports site,” the WSJ’s Adam Thompson told RotoNation
• The Screen Actors Guild and major studios returned to the bargaining table on Wednesday from a three-week recess in contract talks after another Hollywood union came to terms with producers on a new labor deal (Reuters)

(Photo: Reuters)