I can't remember two giddier broadcasters than Nadel and Barnett when their pairing was first announced in January. Maybe Michaels and Madden were when Monday Night Football was still an ABC thing. But that's about it.

In the parlance of sports talk radio, Nadel and Barnett are long-time admirers, first-time partners.

"It's been really, really easy," said Nadel, about to embark on his 31st season in a Rangers broadcast booth. "It's been seamless, a complete piece of cake. We know each other's styles so well."

That's because Barnett has been on the scene almost as long as Nadel. He joined KRLD-AM (1080) as a part-timer back in 1978 while he was still a student at North Texas. When Mark Holtz jumped from the Mavericks to work alongside Nadel on Rangers radio back in 1981, Barnett slipped into Holtz's courtside Mavericks seat. Small world.

Barnett left the Mavericks for the Spurs in 1988 and moved on to ESPN in 1996. Along the way, he slipped in the 1990 season with the Rangers, working cable television games alongside Brad Sham and Jim Sundberg. Old-timers may remember back then Fox Sports Southwest was known as HSE.

Barnett has worked Baseball for ESPN. More and more of his recent Baseball work has been on radio.

Still, he admitted that he has some rookie jitters.

"The nice thing is I feel completely at ease with my knowledge of the team because I have followed the Rangers all along," Barnett said. "I am as prepared as I could possibly be to step in. I've got my rhythm going with Eric. I won't be completely blind."

Barnett replaces Victor Rojas, who left Nadel's side after five seasons for cable's fledgling MLB Network.

Nadel and Barnett might have worked more games together during the exhibition season, but Barnett still had a commitment to ESPN college basketball. Barnett said that's over. He and Nadel will be back on duty Friday for the Rangers against the Royals in Frisco. Barnett plans to work all 162 games regular-season games. He'll be shifting to the TV booth when Josh Lewin leaves to work Saturday games for the Fox network.

And while Barnett is committed to work college football for ESPN after the Rangers' regular season is over, Baseball takes precedence. He said he is looking forward to calling Bristol to say he'll have to miss games because the Rangers are in the playoffs.

Barnett will do four innings of play-by-play per game. The rest of the time, he'll offer analysis. Since he never played professional Baseball or managed, he said has no plans to second-guess strategy.

"I will not be up there in a tower passing down judgment," he said. "I'll be talking to Eric, asking questions and making observations."

That sounds an awful lot like what hockey broadcaster Nadel did when he settled in as Holtz's No. 2 back in 1981.

"The only thing Dave needs to learn from me is how to dress down to work in radio," Nadel said. "Other than that, it is all systems go."

bhorn@dallasnews.com

The Ticket leads in February

New technology now supplies radio ratings on a more consistent basis. We'll can have them monthly. But there is a slight delay. The people meters are good, just not quite up to the TV technology that delivers overnight ratings. Here are the numbers for February, more specifically Feb. 5 to March 4.

It was a very good month for KTCK-AM (1310 The Ticket). The station was tops in the market among sports talk radio's primary demographic - men 25-54 - from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday

But since we are more enlightened here, let's factor women 25-54 into the equation. The Ticket drops all the way to second in the market among all adults in that demo. It trails only Spanish-language KLNO-FM (94.1).

Back to men 25-54: Both of Ticket's drive time shows, Dunham & Miller and The Hardline, were No. 1 in their time slots.

Radio ratings

Ratings for men 25-54, Monday-Friday 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Rk. Station Share

1. KTCK-AM (1310) The Ticket 6.8

2. ESPN-FM (103.3) 3.4

3. KRLD-FM (105.3) The Fan 1.3

Cowboys' early schedule should include prime-time games

Here's what we know: The Cowboys won't be opening in prime time during the NFL's opening week. The Titans-Steelers get NBC's Thursday night game on Sept. 10. The Bears-Packers are NBC's Sunday night game on Sept. 13. Meanwhile, ESPN's opening doubleheader features Terrell Owens and the Bills at the Patriots followed by the Chargers at the Raiders.

That gives Fox the Cowboys opener. Network sources agree that the NFL wants the Cowboys to open against an AFC team. Fox has deemed the Broncos the most desirable AFC team for the opening week. Hence it is mighty likely that the Cowboys will travel to Denver.

That will slide the Cowboys into the Sunday night NBC game during Week 2. Radio talking heads correctly point out that fans around the country couldn't care less if they watch the Cowboys' home opener at the JonesMahal. So why would NBC want the game? Well, Jerry Jones would like to open on a national stage with no competing game, and given Jones' standing on the TV committee, the networks would love to see him get what he wants. Also, the Cowboys are the No. 1 television team in all the land.

And, I'll go out on a limb here. I'm guessing that the Cowboys will be home Week 3 on ESPN. That would almost mirror last season when the Cowboys opened on Fox and then played primetime games on Monday Night Football and Sunday Night Football. That would allow ESPN, as its stated mission, to spend the entire day Monday talking up MNF and Jones' new stadium.

Around the Horn

LeBron James gets the 60 Minutes kid glove treatment Sunday after the CBS' coverage of the NCAA Tournament. Personally, I prefer when 60 Minutes goes after scoundrels, evil doers and elected officials. ... On Saturday night, NBC has the women's final from the World Figure Skating Championships in LA. Michelle Kwan makes her TV analyst debut alongside crusty Dick Button. You know NBC thinks it's a major event. Bob Costas will host. Tom Hammond calls the skate-by-skate. Scott Hamilton, Sandra Bezic and Tracy Wilson will also serve as analysts. WFAA-ex Andrea Joyce serves as the sideline reporter.