Tulsa soccer fans pleased with US performance despite loss to Germany

It came and went before many of us were even awake. The United States men's soccer team gave Germany everything it could handle, but in the end the Germans had the victory, one to nil.<br><br>We may

Friday, June 21st 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

It came and went before many of us were even awake. The United States men's soccer team gave Germany everything it could handle, but in the end the Germans had the victory, one to nil.

We may have lost the game, but as News on Six reporter Steve Berg explains, the US won respect and maybe some new fans. It's not often you find bacon and eggs and beer. But then again, how often do you find fans at the bar for soccer at 6:30 in the morning?

Kerri Hall, US Soccer fan, "He dragged me here, I have no excuse but him, he brought me here." The Varsity Sports Grill opened its doors bright and early, or really late depending on your perspective.

Buddy Smith, Varsity Sports Grill owner, "I haven't been to bed yet, I closed up last night around 3 o'clock or so and got back here at 5." They had some trouble getting employees to show up.

But not the fans, who watched the US go where no American team has gone before. Byron Henderson, US Soccer fan, "We've shown we can play with a lot of the better teams in the world. I mean we beat Portugal."

Believe it or not, there was even a German fan at the bar. Petra Hickok, German Soccer fan, "Dohhhhhhh." Apparently, that's German for goal. The Deutsch domination was too much, but American fans say their team won respect. Jake Bruehl, US Soccer fan, "It was a well-played game. I'm surprised the US took it to the Germans instead of the other way around."

The US team actually outshot Germany 5 to 1 before the German team scored in the first half