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Half Pint Brawlers ready for controversial Bartlett show

It's safe to say Murray Friedman isn't playing down his next big event.

Friedman, owner of Bannerman's Sports Grill in Bartlett, is comparing his bar's hosting of the television show “Half Pint Brawlers” Tuesday night to the thrill of the Chicago Blackhawks' run to the Stanley Cup championship.

“I've seen them on TV so many times, now I'm going to see it in person,” Friedman said. “It's going to be almost like the Stanley Cup with the chills.”

After several bumps in the road, including some resident protests and claims it would harm Bartlett's image, the village's board of trustees last week voted to allow the midget wrestling show at Bannerman's, near Stearns and Sutton roads.

The show will feature performances from the Half Pint Brawlers, and will be recorded for later airing on the Spike TV network.

Winning village board approval pumped up Steve Richardson, who created the program and is one of its star performers. The 4-foot, 4-inch tall Richardson, who wrestles under the name “Puppet, The Psycho Dwarf,” said the objections added motivation for Tuesday night's performance.

“I'm excited about every show that we do, but I'm really excited about this one,” he said. “I love it when people tell me you can't do something and we win.”

Richardson said he'll start the event with his comedy routine while another wrestler, who performs under the stage name “Turtle,” will serve as master of ceremonies.

Overall, event will be toned down from the group's usual performance, one of the restrictions the Bartlett village board required before granting approval.

“We've cut back a little, but we're going to have a blast. It's hard-core midget wrestling, beer and girls,” Richardson said. “What else do you need to have a good time?”

The show starts at 9 p.m., but Richardson and his pals will be there when doors open at 7 p.m. Bannerman's expects a crowd of about 400.

According to the “Half Pint Brawlers” website, the show kicks off a tour that will see the wrestlers crisscross the country from California and Las Vegas to Rhode Island and Mississippi.

Richardson said he's also traveled the world trying to sell “Half Pint Brawlers” DVDs internationally. He's just returned from France, and he's also selling DVDs in India, Netherlands and Australia.

“There's a lot of opportunity,” Richardson said.

The assurances of a tamer show haven't satisfied everyone. Friedman said he's still receiving e-mails criticizing him for hosting the wrestlers. There's also talk of a protest outside the bar Tuesday night.

“You wouldn't believe some of the messages I'm getting,” he said.

The Little People of America, a California-based advocacy group for folks of short stature, sent a letter to the Bartlett village board asking them to prohibit the event. They said the use of the word “midget” was derogatory and that midget wrestler propagates stereotypes.

Richardson said “midget” is merely a marketing term. No one would know what “little people wrestling” is, he said.

“I was basically just laughing when people were saying this is all a moral issue,” Richardson added. “If you don't like it, don't show up.”

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