Rods & Wheels broadcast Saturday mornings on ESPN I watched the premiere episode of this series last Saturday. Avid fisherpersons will probably like it a lot, and, Harley riders will likely appreciate the dresser that Brad Beasley rides (owns, I guess) and Marine veteran Sergeant Joe Kowalski with his FXR (rides, owns?) is a real character. Kowalski is a cigar-chomping, no-bullshit, Sgt. Rock type with a body similar to (big biceps), but flabbier than, that of Paul Teutel, Sr. Kowalski wears knee braces and walks with a cane whereas Paul, Sr. complains all the time about his sore back. Kowalski didn't complain, or mention, his knee problems in the first episode. Various text below is presented as a navigational weblink on the webpage. ------------------ From - http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/tv/news/story?page=g_tv_desc_rods_wheels ESPN Outdoors WEB Video - Episode 2 Episode 2 brings the art of noodling into your living room. Will Brad be able to overcome his noodling fears? Watch this Saturday and find out. Standard | Cable Modem Off the Wall Who has this week's off the wall comment? Watch this clip and find out. Standard | Cable Modem Rods & Wheels Presented by Goodyear July through December 2006 at 9:00 & 11:30 a.m. ET each BASS Saturday on ESPN2 Video - Click here to watch a video clip of Joe as he noodles for catfish and tune in this week to see if Brad will take his turn in the water. And click here for the full collection of Rods & Wheels video from the first two episodes. This week on Rods & Wheels GALLERY - Click for photos Saturday July 15, 2006 9:00 & 11:30 a.m. — "The second stop on Brad Beasley and Joe Kowalski's 2500-mile motorcycle tour of the "deep south" is the Barnett Reservoir near Jackson, MS. The new buddies get to know a little more about each other over some early morning crappie fishing before stepping way out of their comfort zone to try some "hand grabbing". Macho pride outweighs common sense as the two immerse themselves in mud and go below the surface to wrestle up a big blue catfish by hand. About Rods & Wheels This Season on "Rods & Wheels", two lucky guys are chosen from a nation wide search to take the ultimate motorcycle riding, back-country fishing trip of a lifetime. Tulsa, Oklahoma native, Brad Beasley and Marine veteran, Sergeant Joe Kowalski of Connecticut kick off their thirty-eight day excursion with a red fishing trip in New Orleans. From there, they'll bike 2500 miles through the "deep south" in search of some of the most amazing outdoors and fishing destinations in the region. From roadside streams to world-class fisheries, this is a story about two strangers, their incredible journey and the relationships they develop with people along the way. TV schedule 7/08/2006 "Rods & Wheels" kicks off its inaugural season in New Orleans, the first stop in a 2500 mile motorcycle riding, back country fishing excursion through the southeast region of the U.S. A boutique business attorney from Tulsa named Brad Beasley and a retired Recon Marine from Connecticut, Joe Kowalski were chosen from a nationwide network search to participate in the 38-day journey. These two strangers meet for the first time in New Orleans to uncover some of the city's progress after Hurricane Katrina, to sample some home grown jazz and then take their first red fishing trip in the Louisiana Delta Marsh. 7/15/2006 The second stop on Brad Beasley and Joe Kowalski's 2500 mile motorcycle tour of the "deep south" is the Barnett Reservoir near Jackson, MS. The new buddies get to know a little more about each other over some early morning crappie fishing before stepping way out of their comfort zone to try some "hand grabbing". Macho pride outweighs common sense as the two immerse themselves in mud and go below the surface to wrestle up a big blue catfish by hand. 7/22/2006 From stop to stop, the difference in our two contestant's personalities is becoming more obvious. This week, the robust retired Recon Marine, Joe Kowalski lives out one of his life long dreams of fishing for largemouth bass on the renowned Lake Guntersville. And with some good success of his own, Tulsa native, Brad Beasley is beginning to share some of Joe's remarkable passion for bass fishing. 7/29/2006 The "Rods & Wheels" odd-couple, Brad Beasley and Joe Kowalski roll in to Atlanta's Varsity Drive-In to reflect on the highlights from their motorcycle riding, back-country fishing journey. From red fishing to catfish "hand grabbing" to traditional bass fishing, the two are in the midst of the adventure of their lifetime. After one more stop at the remarkable Stone Mountain landmark just outside of town, they continue their way up to the beautiful Lake Lanier to try their luck at fishing for huge striped bass. 8/05/2006 This week, Brad & Joe ride through the great Smokey Mountains for a little twist in their 38-day journey. This is a genuine back country, camp out adventure, fly fishing for trout on hidden mountain streams. Sgt. Joe Kowalski finds himself a little out of his element at first & but this is one of the highlighted spots the Tulsa attorney, Brad Beasley has been looking forward to for a long time. Brad's enthusiasm becomes contagious when he hooks into a lunker! 8/12/2006 No trip through the southeastern U.S. would be complete without a down home fiddle-playing & catfishing extravaganza. Our two contestants, Brad and Joe sample some of the unique sub-cultures of the area as they discover some of the real passions from the region. Then they're off to Myrtle each for one of the biggest & wildest bike rallies in the nation. ----------------------------------------------------- Cheshire Man Takes Road Trip To Remember It's Not Exactly Work For Joe Kowalski, Whose Been Biking And Fishing On ESPN's Dime July 8, 2006 By ROGER CATLIN, Courant TV Critic http://www.courant.com/features/lifestyle/hc-biker.artjul08,0,7992309.story?coll=hc-headlines-life When Joe Kowalski saw an ad for an upcoming ESPN series, it sounded too good to be true. Get on a motorcycle, and go on an extended fishing trip - or what they call "the ultimate motorcycle-riding, back-country fishing trip of a lifetime." ESPN would film it and pick up the bill. The avid cyclist from Cheshire with a self-built '92 Harley-Davidson FXR works in Hartford as marketing director for the biker-friendly personal-injury law firm Trantolo & Trantolo. After submitting a videotape showcasing his oversize personality, Kowalski was chosen from 500 entrants as one of the two men featured on the initial season of "Rods and Wheels." The fruits of their 28-day, 2,500-mile trip begins today on ESPN2 at 9 and 11:30 a.m. "It was a hell of a trip," Kowalski, 48, said from his day job. A cigar-chomping, hard-charging retired U.S. Marine Corps sergeant, Kowalski is also a veteran of various bass-fishing competitions. He learned about building bikes at Damon's Motorcycle Creations, a famous customizing outfit in California. The avid fisherman "epitomizes the country's image of an overbearing, in-your-face Marine veteran," according to ESPN materials. "Kowalski is the bold, raw and nutty side of this season's run of `Rods & Wheels.'" Or, as Kowalski says in a filmed promotion for the show, "I am extremely loud." He's paired with Brad Beasley, a 50-year-old lawyer from Tulsa who seems to enjoy polishing his Harley cruiser as much as riding it and isn't quite as crazy to fish as he is to just be out in nature. "I guess they wanted to see what would happen when two total strangers went on a trip like this," Kowalski says. "We're both highly competitive, but he's more of the, how you should say, polished version," he says. "I'm from the good-old-boys school, where you say it like it is, don't dance around the issue." Although they were paired because of their contrasts, Kowalski says, "We're turning out to be good friends." Their trip took them far into the Deep South, starting in New Orleans, where the adventure begins in today's episode. They travel from roadside ponds to big-time fisheries, meeting people along the way and ending up in the Florida Keys. But they take a break from fishing at times, too - riding their bikes around a NASCAR track in Homestead, Fla.; visiting Myrtle Beach during bike week; paying homage to a childhood buddy lost in combat. Besides the fun, there's a serious intent to his role in "Rods & Wheels," says Kowalski. "I'm doing this for 2,500 guys and gals that can't, for all those young Marines that aren't coming home and are overseas right now," he says. "Let them know there's still a country back here that cares about them." Daniel Bowen, senior coordinating producer for ESPN Outdoors, says Kowalski's experience with motorcycles and fishing as well as broadcasting - he hosts "The Biker Report" Friday mornings on WCCC-FM (106.9) - made him an ideal candidate. It helps that Kowalski "also has a dynamic personality that kind of pops through the screen." The season's 10 episodes will stretch from today to December. "Rods & Wheels" begins this morning on ESPN2 at 9 and 11:30.
