EDIT 2026 - As a final show of character Grogan deleted Spearboard. There's little evidence of its existence on the web. With the content gone all the sponsors and contributors lost their investments of time, effort and money. Businesses will lose revenue and legacies have disappeared.
Things have changed with the rise of social media. The sense of community that drove tightly focused and well established forums has largely disappeared. Things that at the time felt important now seem irrelevant. Some people that contributed are no longer with us. Let this thread stand for those who care to remember this bit of history in our path.
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Some of you know the history of Spearboard forum, others may be oblivious and think it doesn't matter. I think anyone who takes spearfishing seriously in the US should be aware of what Spearboard represents. My thoughts on Spearboard are based on my "extensive" LOL experience posting there, personal contact with the owner Tony Grogan and information that was passed on to me by others who had dealings with him. So because I think it's important for the greater good of the spearfishing community here goes.
The beginning of SB I've only been told about as I was a latecomer on the scene in 2006. It was created around 2002 by a scuba spearfisherman, I can't remember his name. Him and his friends were a group of guys communicating in a small sub-section of the Florida Sportsman forum. Apparently they weren't treated very well there so that prompted them get their own place on the web. Spearboard had steady growth until around 2006 when for some reason the original owner decided to sell it. In comes Tony Grogan, nowadays fondly referred to around here as "the Grogan", and scoops it up for a song.
Under the Grogan's management over the next four years SB caught huge momentum and the number of registered users, lurkers looking to get information, and businesses trying to gain exposure through Spearboard increased dramatically. The grogan steadily and increasingly implemented "rules" that would limit member's input on issues that were important to them, so as to drive the board in the direction he wanted, which appeared to be marketing spearfishing to the masses in tune with his vision for the spearfishing community, catering to sponsors and and at the same time feeding his own megalomania.
Rather than adhering to stated rules about business promotion, Spearboard moderation simply depends on how the grogan feels about a particular company. For example in the case of Speardiver, any mention of the name is grounds for the post to be deleted and the impartial member being threatened with banning. The same goes for divers who use Speardiver gear and post a fish pic where the Speardiver logo on their wetsuit or fins is visible. All links to Spearfishing World forum and the Spearfishing Store website are automatically censored. It would seem that's a normal way to run a business, it is a competitive world after all. But for various reasons as a spearo living in the US, and a small business owner, I find the Spearboard monopoly very disturbing. I hope to get more into the reasons for this as the discussion develops.
I'm posting an email the grogan has been recently sending to various small spearfishing related business owners/hobbyists. In essence he's blackmailing them into giving him money. The ensuing email exchange with one particular well known speargun builder after he declines to sponsor, demonstrates even more clearly the grogan's devious nature. But I'm not at liberty to post it publicly at this time.
Hi *****,
I hope things are going well for you. We are ramping up the marketing power of Spearboard and signing up lots of new sponsors. We are tightening the rules on posting promotion by non-sponsors directly and indirectly. I hope you will consider becoming a sponsor this year.
Here attached are the marketing program elements of the 2010 Spear Wars. I hope you will want to retain your existing advertising and/or expand your Internet marketing efforts which have become even more affordable. [/SIZE][SIZE=+1]We realize the down economy is affecting most businesses and thus we have lowered our advertising and marketing rates accordingly from last year.
In spite of the down economy, the website Spearboard.com has continued its record growth. Every month, we now have over 80,000 unique visitors, over 7 million page views, and over 25 million hits. Those are some staggering web traffic statistics that make Spearboard.com by far the largest spearfishing website in existence.
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[SIZE=+1]For 2010, we have developed a creative concept called The Big Bang! Open Tournament with which we are combining the traditional three tournament Blue Storm series into one massive event in one location at the Riviera Beach Marina which is the excellent Palm Beach Open venue. The tournament rules have been super-charged as follows:
Two Days of Hunting (not just one!)
Hunt Days = Friday, July 16 + Saturday, July 17 Weigh-in Day = Sunday, July 18
Two Sets of Prizes and Trophies!
For this tournament and for cumulative points for three years
Double Aggregate Points Scoring!
2010 aggregate scores will be doubled for prizes and trophies
In addition to a large prize table for this event, there is a special set of prizes and trophies for the cumulative top 30 winners of points earned over three years of participation in the Spear Wars Blue Storm Tournaments. Participants will add their 2008 + 2009 points to the 2010 double points!
Check out www.spearwars.com for further details such as the new tournament rules and forms.
The following items are attached to this e-mail for your review:
1.) The 2010 Spearboard.com Marketing Rate Sheet for tiers one through five.
2.) The 2010 Big Bang! Open Tournament Sponsorship Sheet for Bronze through Diamond levels.
3.) The 2010 Big Bang! Open Tournament Flyer.
Should you decide to advertise and market on Spearboard by donating prizes, you will have to make only one prize shipment this year instead of the three shipments of prior years. And, as I mentioned above, the rates have been adjusted downward so that you get more value for less cost. Additionally, unlike some tournaments that pile your prize donations on a table, we try our best to showcase them on grid wall such as these prizes displayed at the last 2009 Palm Beach Open at this link:
Please let me know what you would like to do. I am looking forward to having your participation in marketing your business on Spearboard. Please e-mail me or call me at 561-371-1256 with any questions or comments.
Thanks, Tony Grogan
Owner of Spearboard.com
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