Episode 19: Billy Bob Thornton, Oscar-winner and frontman for the Boxmasters, and bandmate JD Andrew Sit With Says Who Sports

Says Who Sports with John Dauphin

Oscar-Winner and frontman for the Boxmasters Billy Bob Thornton and his longtime bandmate, Grammy-winning guitarist JD Andrew, sit with Says Who Sports to talk music, movies and a whole lotta sports!
Thornton has been a big fan of sports, especially baseball, all his life. He grew up in rural Arkansas and became a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals. Thornton shares his excitement at meeting Stan Musial and Bob Gibson, what it was like to witness the power of slugger Albert Pujols taking cuts in batting practice from an on-field perspective, drinking beers with Goose Gossage, a smoking session with Jim Leyland, his close relationship with former Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa, and his pick between Greg Maddux and Roger Clemens to pitch a winner-take-all game.
Thornton, who starred in the movie Friday Night Lights, discusses immersing himself in the intensity and drama of Texas high school football, his iconic halftime speech in the movie, and his big respect for kickers, reinforced thru his own (painful) attempts at kicking seemingly simple extra points during breaks in filming in the Astrodome.
Thornton, who has played and toured with the best in the music business since he was a teenager, and Andrew discuss their musical brotherhood of nearly two decades, their earliest musical influences, and stories of recording and sharing stages with many of their musical heroes, from ZZ Top to Warren Zevon.
Andrew recounts what it was like working as a mixer in the studio with the Rolling Stones during the sessions for A Bigger Bang, including special moments with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.
Thornton discusses how winning an Oscar for Sling Blade changed his life, his gratitude for the cast members of the movie and the friendships that developed, and if Sling Blade could even be made today.