This is why I'm a hockey fan. Seriously. What I love about this story is that Smyth was just as thrilled to meet her. Think the egos in the other professional sports would have done this?

And what could be better than a 101 year old woman still talking about "banging" in goals.

Why is this more acceptable/cute/newsworthy than it would be for a 100-year-old man to "wish" to touch a cheerleader?

Gwen asked: "Why is this more acceptable/cute/newsworthy than it would be for a 100-year-old man to "wish" to touch a cheerleader?"

Because our culture regards male sexuality as predatory and female sexuality as not predatory. That's why female teachers who molest male students get house arrest instead of a long prison term.

In any case, I don't see anything gross about this old woman wanting to run her fingers thru the young hockey player's head. It's a bit silly, perhaps, but it is a harmless request and it was very good of the athlete to grant her wish. Nice fellow.

My reaction to reading this was 'why did this old lady get her wish?' The answer is presumably just because she's old. And I thought, when I get that old, I wonder if I would be able to make such a request and get it answered, such as a birthday wish to run my hands through the hair of the 80-years-hence equivalent of Mia Hamm. But, no, that just sounds downright creepy, doesn't it?! If that had happened, how would Broadsheet report on it? I'm guessing with a negative spin about dirty old men and the objectification of women.

Lighten up! THe guy was a sport and the lady was thrilled. Anybody who makes it to 101 should be allowed to run their fingers through anybody's hair. Well, except for Jerry Falwell's or Rush Limbaugh's hair, because that would be just gross.

Two people have a connection that is neither corrupted by perversion nor ulterior motive and people are griping about the moral imbalance of this story? Really, get off your PC horse and let human experience exist. You can take anything apart and find an angle to show that the world is unfair and lopsided and hypocritcal and we should all be punished for every impure thought we have. Or you can just be satisfied with the thought that a woman who has lived a long life and loves her hometown hockey team had a special moment on her birthday that she'll remember with affection for the rest of her life.

Ryan Smith did a very cool thing and the request was harmless and somewhat indulgent and response very decent and humane. What wasn't cool was Broadsheet's sexualization of the event and turning it into a tacky post. The title of this article was misrepresentative and had to be cast in this way to enable the kind of battle of the sex that seems to be the sole reason for this site to exist. Furthermore as these writers never seem tire of telling us, SEX SELLS. So a more accurate title (but ultimately irrelevant for this web) of something like Hockey Star Does Nice Turn would do little to titillate and really would not enable the kind of silly men/women crossfire action that is the heart and sole of this site.

Oh and it would be more than beautiful if a 100 year old man wanted cheerleaders to visit him on his birthday and some of them obliged.

the 95 year old man clambers up to the podium with his stroller to touch the nipple of Carmen Electra or whatever celeb has ponied up that week for charity.

"Two people have a connection that is neither corrupted by perversion nor ulterior motive and people are griping about the moral imbalance of this story?"

I think it's disgusting that anyone was granted a wish to touch a stranger, whether it was a man or woman, whether it was "corrupted by perversion" or not.

I teach my kids to be wary of strangers touching them. I don't append that lesson with, "Unless it's a sweet, innocent old lady." Your mileage may vary - good for you.

Not sure what Juliana had in mind, but as a hockey fan I thought the story was great. I hope to hell that if I'm still kickin' at 101, the Joe Thornton of the day is willing to swing by the nursing home to wish me a happy birthday and give me a peck on the cheek. And if the Cammi Granato of the day can stop by and give my husband the same thrill, I'm all for it. Maybe you have to be a hockey fan to appreciate the sweetness of this story. To even remotely compare Ryan Smyth's humanity and the well-known humility and kindness of many players (of both genders) in this sport to teachers having sex with underage kids seems a bit extreme to me. Actually, more than a bit.

a shit about it, unlike all the women who start foaming at the mouth any time men show interest in young(er) women. Are you so obsessed with your my way or the highway viewpoint that you are mentally blocked from even recognizing when it is being questioned?