The kind of immunity you attain when gaining access into a prestigious club like the Hall of Fame must be wonderful. Long-time nominee, and Yosemite Sam lookalike, Goose Gossage, was the lone inductee to Major League Baseball’s Hall of Fame Tuesday night. Not shy of the spotlight, the Goose decided to lay a golden egg of controversial statements that earns him a 21-thumb salute from us.

Goose Gossage can understand why some players would try steroids. With major league salaries so high, finding a way to extend a career is an awfully tempting proposition. “Chances are, I probably would have done it, too,” Gossage said Wednesday.

Are we talking about 50%, 75%? What he meant to say was that he wouldn’t of done it because he understands the repercussions of such an act.

“I’ve been in that situation, trying to prolong my career with the money that was out there to be made at this time in baseball. I can’t sit here and say that I would not have done it,” he said. “But had I done it, I’m going to face the consequences. And the consequences are, that whether they belong in the Hall of Fame or not, the records can’t stand.

Come again? Is this the kind of moral flexibility and invincibility linked to Hall of Fame induction? That. Is. Fucking. Cool. We can only dream of ever achieving status like that. Keep talking, Goose. Keep talking.

Gossage ‘probably would have done’ steroids [MSNBC]
Image [TimeInc]