[Loser]

I was fortunate enough to see him speak at a Linux convention under just the right circumstances.

IGN (I think) was giving the Free Software Foundation an award that came with some amount of money. They called it the Linus Torvald Award for Such-And-Such. Stallman got up there and started going off. The most memorable line was "This is like giving the Han Solo Award to the Rebel Fleet."

The poor 'spokes model' type up on stage holding the gigantic check got to looking a little worried, behind her carefully crafted pLastic smile, of course. After a little while, she started to lower the check. But then Stallman would sound like he was wrapping up, and she'd pull it back up. But they he wouldn't stop, and the check would slowly start lowering again.

I think I have the whole thing on tape somewhere. I'll have to dig it up and watch it again.

I think it was LinuxWorld '99 (which would explain IGN).