Ok, granted, this is via a circuitous route, but because Google bought DoubleClick, which means they also own Performics (an SEO company), and Performics lists some of their clients on their site, and some of those clients obviously participate in buying text links (which are not nofollowed), then via this circuitous route, we can claim that Google is likely responsible for arranging for paid text links for many big clients. Can this get any funnier or more embarrassing for Google? See all the juicy details over at Smackdown!