Bobby Valentine's 9/11 Comments About the Yankees Probably Cost Him Gig with TBS

Bobby Valentine’s bizarre comments about the New York Yankees on the anniversary of 9/11 earlier this month appear to have cost him a chance to work in TBS’ postseason studio. Newsday’s Neil Best writes Valentine was on track to work for TBS, but will not following his interview on WFAN when he said, among other things, “You couldn’t find a Yankee down at Ground Zero, talking to the guys who were working 24/7.”

TBS’ studio team includes Sports Illustrated’s Tom Verducci and former Cy Young winner Pedro Martinez along with Keith Olbermann, who dubbed Valentine his “Worst Person in the Sports World” on his new ESPN show in the wake of the comments. Valentine dug himself a deeper hole when he asked for pictures of Yankees helping out around New York following the tragic events of 9/11.

Best tracked down a statement from TBS on the matter:

"“Bobby was one of a number of candidates being considered for the role, but we elected to go with the team of Keith, Pedro and Tom and we’re very excited about that combination in-studio for us.”"

A MLB spokesperson had “no comment” on the matter when reached via email by The Big Lead.