7 Question Interview with Gregg (aka Hollow Man)
One of the things that make for a great community are dedicated members who donate their time and their knowledge to help form a stronger group. Gregg (aka Hollow Man from the Bulletin Board) has been among the most dedicated members of our community. Publicly he has written several letters on SURGE's behalf, posted flyers and spread the word about our community. Behind the scenes he has taken the time to help develop some of SaveSURGE.org's strategies to get our favorite soda back. We spoke with Gregg to get his thoughts on his enshrinement into the Hall of Fame:

1. How do you feel about being inducted into the SaveSURGE.org Hall of Fame?
It's definitely an honor to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. I've done my best to distribute flyers, contact Coke, and generally spread the word (heck, I have an old can of SURGE on my desk at work!), but I never once expected to receive anything for my time. I simply did it because it was the right thing to do. Receiving this award is a supra-bonus!

2. What makes SURGE your favorite soda?
The thing that made SURGE so cool was, in fact, its subtlety. The light carbonation, the main citrus boost, then the orange finish, is what made it unique and very refreshing. There are many beverages out there that make the mistake of being too overbearing, but thankfully SURGE wasn't one of them.

3. What would you say is your greatest accomplishment as a member of our community?
I think my greatest accomplishment is that I'm able to persuade members to think about the other side of an argument from time-to-time. Take for example the whole Vault vs. SURGE debate. Granted what we really wanted was SURGE back on the shelves, but nonetheless the presence of Vault is a huge accomplishment. Considering that a can of Coke isn't even REALLY Coke (current Coke has corn syrup in it, not sugar), the fact that we got something that's as close to SURGE as Vault is nothing short of remarkable. I think I've gotten a few members to recognize this, and perhaps look at some other things from a different point of view during my tenure here.

4. Describe how you felt when you realized that SURGE was no longer available in bottles and cans.
I had actually forgotten about SURGE for a couple of years, and it was via SaveSURGE.org that I discovered it had been discontinued. It was rather surprising because I remember the stuff being everywhere! But alas, when I went to every sighting in my area, I realized the truth: those sightings were old, and SURGE was, in fact, gone.

5. How did you feel when you found out that SaveSURGE.org was trying to bring it back?
I said to myself, "This is something I can get behind." I'm all about searching for things that are difficult to find, because the rewards once you discover the items are ever so sweet. I've really enjoyed working with the community to find the last remnants of SURGE, then brainstorming on ways to convince Coke to bring it back.

6. What are your thoughts regarding Vault? Have you tried it yet, and if so, do you consider it a victory for our community?
Vault is a great tasting beverage. If you were to put it in a SURGE can, change the color, and have people compare it to fresh SURGE, I guarantee most people wouldn't be able to tell the difference. This is most definitely a victory for our community. Coke is a humongous company that is doing just fine, thus, has no reason whatsoever to listen to anything we say. But we're definitely responsible - after all, who else but us could possibly be bothering Coke to release a new citrus flavored soda? Certainly not Mountain Dew fans!

7. Is there anything else that you'd like to say to SURGE fans about you and your accomplishment?
Thanks so much for this honor! SaveSURGE.org is a great community because its members are a blast to be around. I've never encountered a more dedicated group of people, and I'm very proud to be part of it.

Back to Gregg's Hall of Fame Home