Some good points. The one thing I’m grateful for with regard to game-opening nonsense is that for the most part the TV broadcasts spare us a lot of that nonsense nowadays and don’t really cut to the on-field activity until very close to the game’s start. They also cut out the anthem which I wish they wouldn’t do, but I’ll take that trade-off any day. I do think showing the introductions for the MLB All-Star game and World Series (first game at each venue) is a time-honored tradition and I don’t mind seeing that.
And the stats, ah where to begin? WAR, WHIP, exit velocity, what does it all mean? In hockey, “hits” is now a stat. What does it measure? And who analyzes that over a season, or a career? Will there be an annual trophy one day for the best checker? Conversely, a more meaningful stat like plus/minus is never talked about anymore.