Sports Tonight: NBCSP makes deal to televise return of Joel Embiid

I have to give NBC Sports Philadelphia a ton of credit.

Originally, the long-awaited return of Joel Embiid to action for the Sixers was not scheduled to be televised locally tonight. And because the preseason game against the Brooklyn Nets at 7:30  was not being televised on NBA TV, the only way Sixers fans were going to see Embiid play would have been to drive a few hours to Uniondale, N.Y.

Realizing the importance of Embiid's return to the Philadelphia fan base, NBCSP negotiated all day and worked out a deal, presumably with YES Network, to televise the game. It can also be heard on 97.5 The Fanatic.

Embiid hasn't played since Jan. 27 and on Tuesday signed a "Super Max" contract extension worth $148 million that could pay up to $175 million. Despite reported financial and, more importantly, salary-cap protections, this is the Sixers' final confirmation that they are all in with the injury-plagued Embiid being the centerpiece of things moving forward.

Kudos to NBCSP for recognizing that and not making fans wait until opening night next Wednesday, when the Sixers with Embiid will play at the Washington Wizards on ESPN.

There is nothing better in sports than the decisive game of a playoff series.

The drama and excitement of moments like that are why we invest so much time, energy and emotion in the games we watch for entertainment.

On FS1 at 8, the Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees will decide whose dreams continue and whose will be crushed in Game 5 of their American League Division Series.

It doesn't matter that Cleveland won 11 more games during the 162-game regular season than the Yankees. It doesn't matter that Yankees have won 27 World Series, 13.5 times as many as the Indians have won. It doesn't matter that Cleveland's 68 seasons without a World Series title is the longest active streak in Major League Baseball, replacing that of the Chicago Cubs, who beat them in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series.

All that matters is which team has at least one more run after nine innings, possibly more, are played.

For a complete definition of bandwagon jumping on and off, Brenda Marks of the Charlotte Observer writes Carolina Panthers cornerback Daryl Worley was a huge fan of the Eagles until they lost Super Bowl XXXIX. Worley graduated from Philly's Penn Charter School.

Staff writer Mike Jensen continues his 'Philly Hoops" anthology with the story of the Born Leader Family brand ,which is teaching life skills through basketball.

Staff writer Rob Tornoe details how ESPN talk show host Michael Wilbon accused Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones of having a "plantation" mentality.

The Flyers suffered a tough loss in Nashville, and staff writer Sam Donnellon gives his observations, which include blaming coach Dave Hakstol.

Mac Engel of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram writes that Dallas owner Jerry Jones' threat to bench players who protest during the anthem has the potential to ruin the Cowboys' season.

When the going gets tough, the tough bail out, or at least that's what appears to have happened with the New York Giants.

It would be a pathetic effort by United States soccer, but Roger Gonzalez of cbssports.com writes there is a slim chance that filing an appeal could keep its World Cup chances alive.

The embarrassment of not qualifying for the 2018 World Cup is the best thing to happen to United States soccer since the 1989 team ended the 40-year drought.

It shows how stagnated the development of world-class talent in the USA has been. The young USA stars who came onto the scene around 2000 aged without having adequate replacements waiting. The U.S. under-23 team, which comprises the Olympic squad, has missed qualifying for three of the last four Olympics.

Major League Soccer isn't producing internationally elite talent, and most American players are still not good enough to survive in Europe.

A thorough review of the U.S. player development program needs to be done. The national team needs talent that is great by Germany, Brazil and Spain standards, not by American standards.

Unless the USA finds some legitimate world-class-level players to grow alongside 19-year-old Christian Pulisic over the next four years, it probably won't be enough to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, either.

Baseball Playoffs
Yankees at Indians, 8 p.m. (FS1)

NHL
Penguins at Capitals, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)

Preseason Basketball
Celtics at Hornets, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Sixers at Nets, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSP, 97.5-FM)
Rockets at Grizzlies, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)

College Football
South Alabama at Troy, 8 p.m. (ESPN2)

Golf on Golf Channel
PGA: CIMB Classic, 10;30 p.m.
European PGA: Italian Open, 4 a.m. Thursday

Changes in listings: Comcast SportsNet has changed its name to NBC Sports Philadelphia (NBCSP). The Comcast Network is now NBC Sports Philadelphia+ (NBCSP+).