Part 10/13:
The owners hold significant sway, often shaping public perception by portraying themselves as the benevolent stewards of the sport, while casting players as overpaid and entitled. This narrative strategy is designed to sway public sentiment and sway negotiations in their favor.
The law of leverage is simple: with long-standing control over the league infrastructure and the power of media, owners typically dominate the messaging, making it hard for players to garner public support during labor disputes. The speaker notes that players, being short-term assets with brief careers, have limited negotiating power—mainly through strike threats or sit-outs—yet they are often reluctant to miss games or season obligations, weakening their leverage.