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Bobby Valentine Trashes Boston Media, Defends Comments On Kevin Youkilis

BOSTON (CBS) -- Bobby Valentine made $2.5 million managing the Red Sox in their worst season since the 1960s last year, and he did such a poor job that he was fired and is going to make quite the hefty sum in the upcoming season to not manage the Red Sox.

Yet, despite making what most folks would consider a lifetime of riches for a dream job, it's clear that Valentine is still holding on to some sour feelings about his experience in Boston.

Now the athletic director at Sacred Heart University and a part-time analyst for SNY in New York, Valentine partook in a long interview with the New York Post's Steve Serby, which touched on a number of topics, many centering on New York baseball. However, he managed to work in a very pointed and direct insult back at those who covered his tenure in Boston.

"All the Boston [media] ever wanted to do is prove that they were a tougher media than New York," Valentine said. "And I don't paint everyone with the same brush -- I think some of those guys are absolutely terrific people. And a good group of 'em are absolute horses asses who are unprofessional, lazy and should not be in the business up here, in my opinion.

"I had one guy never talk to me the whole year because he said to me he didn't like the answer I gave him in spring training," Valentine continued. "He covered my team the whole year! I think the New York media knows more about baseball and is more professional."

Valentine exposed some more bitterness when asked if he regretted his comments about Kevin Youkilis' lack of passion -- a statement that quickly led to the Red Sox shipping Youkilis out of town for spare parts.

"I think that they were absolutely heartfelt at the time, and they were totally blown out of proportion, and reacted to improperly by the outside world," Valentine said.

Valentine told Serby that if he ever manages in the majors again, it has to be "a good situation" and he doesn't intend to "manage just to manage." Serby then asked Valentine if that's what he did last season.

"Not really, but kind of. I thought it was the right situation," Valentine said. "I didn't have a lot of time to figure it out. It was a real late decision."

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