SHIRTLESS FIGHTING: THE REAL STORY

By Patrick Hruby

Originally published on espn.com PAGE 2

In reportedly taking off his shirt while challenging a clubhouse full of minor leaguers to fight, New York Mets executive Tony Bernazard didn't just make like Hulk Hogan -- he joined a long, distinguished fraternity that includes He-Man, Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris in "Way of the Dragon," the father and son tandem who attacked Tom Gamboa and pretty much everyone ever arrested on "COPS."

Bernazard has since been fired by the Mets, but Page 2 still wants to know why people doff their tops before throwing down. We asked a pair of experts to explain:

1. Why lose your shirt before fighting?

Lt. Col. David Grossman, author of "On Killing" and an expert in human aggression: "The first thing to hit you with a physical conflict looming is a burst of sympathetic nervous system arousal, causing increased heart rate and blood pressure. The body goes into high gear. A burst of 'heat' is felt. One response is to strip off clothing."

Dr. Adrian Pantoja, a Pitzer College professor and expert on gangs and urban unrest: "It's a means of intimidation. By displaying your muscles, you hope your opponent will back down. Similar behavior is observed in drag racing. The exterior of an automobile says little about a car's performance. However, once you pop the hood and reveal the engine, opponents can see what they're up against."

2. What else can shirtless aggression signify?

Grossman: "At a more extreme level, when we have individuals going 'berserk' -- which today is known medically as excited delirium -- they often strip naked. For cops, reports of a naked guy going wacko means big trouble. These guys are very likely to die, as the body -- capable of incredible acts of physical strength -- literally burns itself up. Core temperature for the corpse can be 105-plus degrees. Cops often use Tasers on these individuals. When they die, it's blamed on the Taser, but the evidence is clear: it's not the Taser, it's this 'berserker' impact."

3. Any other psychological reasons?

Pantoja: "Shirt removal is the final step before engaging in a fight. It can be considered a warning shot. In street fighting and professional fighting, you don't deliberately throw a punch with the aim of missing. So how do you warn an opponent? You remove your shirt. - It also buys time to have someone step in and stop the fight. No one really enjoys fighting."

4. Is there a practical fighting benefit to being shirtless?

Pantoja: "Removal is primarily psychological. Professional boxers, MMA, UFC and other sports involving fighting are performed with as little clothing as possible. In ancient Greece, wrestling was done entirely without clothes. Street fighting or urban gang brawls merely mimic what is seen on television."