What is the deal with geese in athletics?

[Jaguar]

There is a bizarre trend of athletes nicknamed "Goose" taking over professional sports. All of them have confusingly similar last names, (all resembling "Gosling,") and identical nicknames.

Sports they have infiltrated:
Baseball, obviously, with Leon Allen "Goose" Goslin, the most famous of all geese athletes.
Football, with Austin "Goose" Gonsoulin, a well-decorated defensive back.
Then there's Hockey, with Mario "Goose" Gosselin, a goalie.
Another Goose in baseball, Rich "Goose" Gossage, recently joined his fellow goose in Cooperstown.
Soccer, with Mike "Goose" Gosselin.
They even seem to be in minor sports, like Cross Country.

I think I speak for all of us when I say "what's the deal with this?" Is it mandatory that all athletes with names that sound like "gosling" take the nickname of "goose?" Why are there so many of them? Is their goal to confuse people? To usher in a new era of waterfowl-centric athletics, where ducks are revered and geese are the greatest of them all?

I might not have the answers, but at least I have the courage to admit that there are serious questions here.

[-Jrabbit]

No. You are just being silly.

A silly goose.

[LordShiva]

Retief Goosen

[-Jrabbit]

Must be either:

A) the exception that proves the rule, or
B) proof that South Aftricans have no respect for sacred sport traditions.

[Koyaanisqatsi]

or C) Golf is not a sport.

[flash9286]

Originally posted by -Jrabbit
Must be either:

A) the exception that proves the rule, or
B) proof that South Aftricans have no respect for sacred sport traditions.

Retief Goosen's nickname is The Goose.

[SlowwHand]

I guess they could be called Gopher. I don't know that that's any better.

[Grandpa Troll]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
I guess they could be called Gopher. I don't know that that's any better.

Yeah Gopher, he excelled in the sport of shuffleboard