Chatting with the enemy? Bobby on 1050

Chatting with the enemy? Bobby on 1050

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Bobby Valentine will help stir up the Red Sox-Yankees rivarly by making a weekly appearance on the ‘The Michael Kay Show’.

It didnt take long for Bobby Valentine to begin stirring things up in the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry. Now Bostons manager has a big-time New York kitchen to wield his spoon.

ESPN-1050 has signed Valentine to do a weekly managers segment on The Michael Kay Show. Not only is 1050s move unprecedented, but it has Kay, the TV voice of the Yankees, squaring off against Valentine, the manager of the hated Red Sox.

Valentine makes his first 1050 appearance today (Wednesday) at 4:30 p.m.

"Why, there aren't any Boston fans in New York?" Valentine said when quizzed by reporters Wednesday afternoon about appearing on New York radio. "I've known Michael for a long time; I'm known ESPN for a long time. They asked and I agreed."

The move will not sit well with a segment of Yankees fans who cant stand the Red Sox and already despise Valentine. But ESPN-1050 suits are hoping these fans will tune into hear this man they love to hate.

The coming of Valentine marks the first time a manager from other than either the Mets or Yankees has signed a contract to make regular appearances on a local sportstalk station.

Last December, the Daily News urged 1050 to make a run at Valentine. With both Terry Collins and Joe Girardi signed with WFAN, 1050 had no baseball managers. 1050 brass began its pursuit of Valentine earlier this year.

The idea of getting Bobby intrigued them (ESPN-1050), a radio source said. And since he already had worked for ESPN (Valentines last stop was ESPNs Sunday Night Baseball booth) a relationship was already established.

Sources said WFAN also had interest in Valentine and reached out to his representatives.

For 1050, the driving forces in bringing the controversial and talkative Valentine on board are ratings and sponsorships. During the football season, ESPN-1050 has assembled the strongest roster of pay-to-say mouths in the city including Rex Ryan, Eli Manning, Mark Sanchez, Joe Namath and others.

These yakkers have created buzz and headlines, bringing added recognition to the radio station. Yet when it comes to baseball theres a huge void. Not only does 1050 not have radi o rights to either the Yankees or Mets, it doesnt have any significant baseball personalities under contract.

Now, with Valentine, it does. No doubt he will use the station to fan the flames and tweak Bombers fans, especially during every Yankees-Red Sox series.