In St. Petersburg, Rodney Page notes CBS did not conduct a post-round interview with Rory Sabbatini yesterday because the golfer wanted to "dictate the questions." Sabbatini, who finished third in the PGA Tour Wells Fargo Championship, "faces a suspension after getting into a shouting match with playing partner Sean O'Hair a few weeks ago." CBS' Peter Kostis "wanted to interview Sabbatini, but he would only do it if they didn't talk about the suspension." Page: "Good for CBS for not airing a watered-down interview" (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 5/9).
STORM FRONT: In Seattle, Jayda Evans reported the WNBA Storm will have all 34 regular-season games air on KPTK-AM after the radio station and team "signed a multiyear deal." The Storm's games previously aired on KKNW-AM. Announcers Dick Fain and Adia Barnes "will remain." Meanwhile, KONG-Ind. is returning as the team's TV partner, and the Storm announced "five broadcast dates, with more being negotiated" (SEATTLE TIMES, 5/7).
PAPA DON'T PREACH: In N.Y., Phil Mushnick wrote former NFL Network game announcer Bob Papa, a "steady and highly credible pro, was rewarded with a kick to the groin" this offseason when he was "told he had to re-audition for his job" after three seasons. NFL Network last week announced Brad Nessler and Mike Mayock will call the net's Thursday night game package this year, and Papa "should have known" when he had to audition for his job that it "was mere prelude to a shove, that NFLN needed some prefabricated excuse to dump him and 'not working well with Mayock,' if needed, would make a handy one" (N.Y. POST, 5/8).
