Thornton reveals story behind his shirtless pic in Pittsburgh, signing contract while mowing lawn

It's been a season of milestones so far for Joe Thornton.

After passing Jari Kurri for 20th on the all-time points list, Jumbo Joe picked up point number 1,400 Wednesday night in San Jose's 4-1 win over Nashville.

Thornton is a fan favourite and for good reason (he's a legend), and there are multiple pictures that have gone viral that support that claim:

In a recent interview with ESPN's Josh Cooper, Thornton talked about both pictures and revealed why he took his shirt off while walking around in Pittsburgh with Brent Burns:

ESPN.com: Wasn't it legitimately hot in Pittsburgh that day you took your shirt off?

Thornton: It really was. To start, I want to let you know that I was wearing a shirt and then me and [Burns] were just walking and walking because it was a beautiful day in Pitt. We walked past the football stadium and back and then it was like, "This is too hot, I'm taking my shirt off," and then lo and behold, there's the picture.

ESPN.com: Did you ever think it would become what it became? And was that kind of a crash course in internet viral content for you?

Thornton: Yes, because obviously I was with [Burns] and he was like, "Somebody just sent me this" and then I'm like, "Whoa, what is that?" And then he was like, "This is how many views it's getting now" and then three minutes later he was like, "This is getting bigger," and then it was getting bigger, and that's how I found out what it's all about.

ESPN.com: Were you embarrassed about it?

Thornton: No ... I'm comfortable with my shirt off.

ESPN.com: Then you followed up the shirtless photo with the lawnmower. What gave you the idea to do that photo?

Thornton: So I was up in Canada, and that's the one thing I love doing when I'm back at the farm, I like cutting the grass, and I remember John [my brother and agent] or Rosemary [Tebaldi, director of hockey administration] from the Sharks sent the contract. We don't have a fax machine at the farm, so my wife had to go into town and get the contract and when she came back she was like, "Here sign this." So I was actually out cutting the grass because I cut it every three or four days up there. So she was like, "Sign it right there and I'll take a picture and send it to John" because John wanted a picture of it, so I was actually cutting the grass when that all came down.

What do you want from the guy, it was a hot day and he did what anyone would do in that situation.

In the interview, Thornton also opened up about his relationship with the late Gord Downie and revealed how the two first met:

ESPN.com: Throughout your career, you've been afforded opportunities to meet some cool people. Is there anyone you got to meet you've always wanted to meet outside of hockey?

Thornton: It would have to be Gord Downie, the lead singer for The Tragically Hip. You know when you meet your idols, you're not sure how that's going to go, you just hope it's going to be as good as you dream it could be. I think meeting Gord and [befriending] Gord, he was the sweetest man I ever met and he just blew me away like, "Wow, this guy is this nice, this kind and literally the sweetest man I ever met." He's the guy for me, for sure.

ESPN.com: When did you meet him?

Thornton: I would have met Gord 15 years ago. The reason I got to meet Gord, his brother Patrick lived in Boston when I lived in Boston. We just met 20 years ago and he became best friends with my brother Alex, and that's how it came about that way. He came to the game we recently played against the Bruins with his son and they're just the best family that you'd ever want to meet. They really are.

ESPN.com: How personally did you take his passing?

Thornton: For me, I'll think about Gord Downie every day. Every day until I die, probably. I think about him, I listen to him and he's one guy I'll think about all the time. He's that powerful and, yeah ... just The Man, what can I say?

Thornton is a huge fan of Downie and The Hip, and as many people pointed out, he was wearing a pair of Tragically Hip flip flops in that epic contract photo.

ESPN.com: Some reports said you wanted to stay with Marleau. Was that a bit of a shock to your system when he went to Toronto?

Thornton: A little bit because I played with Patty for so long. Obviously, I loved playing with Patty and it was just like, "Wow, Patty Marleau is going to be putting on a blue and white jersey and this is going to be strange and he's not going to be there at training camp." It was different, but as you know and everybody knows throughout the sport, it's business. And he's having a super, super year up in Toronto and I'm super happy for him.

ESPN.com: Did you understand why he left? The three years and a chance to play with Auston Matthews, etc.?

Thornton: I've never questioned it. He wanted a change in scenery and I think going to Toronto is going to be a great thing for him. I think he loves it up there and loves playing under [coach Mike Babcock], and they have a great team up there. I think he's a perfect fit. I know he took this very seriously, if he left San Jose, he wanted to have a great shot to win the Stanley Cup. He wants to win one and I want to win one and we'll see what happens.

ESPN.com: Beyond your belief in the Sharks, there were also non-hockey reasons you wanted to stay, right?

Thornton: It's great [living here], but I do feel like being in San Jose, we have a chance to win the Cup every year, and I think that's a luxury not too many teams have. ... That's the biggest thing with my age and being 38, I believe this team and this coaching staff, we have a chance to win the Stanley Cup, and I truly believe that.

Make sure to check out and read the entire interview Josh did with Jumbo Joe here!

(H/T: ESPN)