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S GrossKinda' a trip down net54 memory lane. I think the 2003 link was one of the first "long treads" I read as a new comer. Quite tame by today's interactions ..... 
My theory is you can pronounce it any way you want, as did they did back then, and now.
I used to work with a great guy who's last name was Cierko. He pronounced it "Cy-er-ko." So everyone at work pronounced it that way. Every once in a while you'd have someone call for him and ask for Mr. "Ser-ko." Well, you would politely correct the pronunciation to the caller, and forward the call. One day I get a call for Mr. Ser-ko, and I let the caller know it's pronounced Cy-er-ko, and the caller responds: "This is his brother, and it's pronounced Ser-ko !!!!!"
Conversely, I knew an elderly brother and sister who pronounced their last name the same, but spelled it differently (Apostolaris vs. Apostolares) ...
Thanks for listening, I've been waiting almost 4 years to post this thought (or lack there of) ....
Oh, and by the way ...
Gross -- long O -- good
Gross -- rhymes with Cross -- bad