These 2 Tweets Sum up Why NBA is Dominating MLB in Fight to Return to Action

While MLB has been trapped in a web of salary negotiations for players, the NBA is slowly but surely moving towards an optimistic plan for return, and it's becoming pretty clear that we're going to see players back on the court before agents let anyone onto the diamond.

Baseball has been subject to a ton of controversy recently because of the conflicts between owners and players. The owners are proposing insane pay cuts that would decimate the salaries of top-paid players by more than 50%. The NBA, on the other hand, has made the players — especially the most famous ones — a priority in its agreements.

Hmm. Wonder what's working? Devaluing stars, or getting them behind your plan?

NBA commissioner Adam Silver gets it. The way to get the players' association on your side is to get the biggest players. The NBA's plan includes a 25% salary cut for athletes, but top athletes who have already been paid in full for the year will get an IOU on next year's salary. That plan also includes a caveat that would return the full salary amount to players if the NBA is able to play out the remainder of its regular season.

The MLB is completely at odds with its athletes, especially the stars. Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Blake Snell and Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Bryce Harper have been outspoken against the proposed salary cuts, and those are exactly the people the owners need on their side.

The players have the power here, because it's the owners who have the most money to lose if their leagues can't return. Everyone wants to line their own pockets, but you can't play sports without athletes, and if MLB wants to move forward as smoothly as the NBA is right now, they need to stop screwing over the people who make them their money.