I'd love to watch a game how it is live, with only the ambient sounds and without these ridiculous announcers.
The talking heads are so bad, would any of you pay for a broadcast without announcers?
Boys, I think we have a Double Agent here! Were you motivated to make this post after a recent experience? Possibly, say,
the Habs game last night when they had technical problems and all the viewers could hear was the sounds in the arena (the reason I had that game on is beyond the scope of this posting).
The way I see it, commentators are also there to bring "excitement" to the game and keep your attention even though the game is dull, or nothing is going on in terms of offense or actual goals. Describing a pass or teams fighting for the puck in the corner for 30 seconds. It fills the time with sound as you watch, gives your brain something to consume until a goal, a power play (the
chance of a goal), some intense action or,
back when they used to, a fight or big hit.
When the 1990's Devils were playing the most boring trap happy hockey, with clutching and grabbing it took a great deal of effort to make the game sounds exciting, it simply wasn't. These guys today have it easy in comparison. They also fill the time in between some of the whistles, bring you insight, talk stats or stories around the campfire to fill the airtime. At other times, advertisers will entertain you and sell you some junk.
It's nice to listen to the game as one might hear it while attending it live, but, after so many years of being conditioned to hearing a commentator when watching at home, it would take getting used to.