As anticipated, Emmis Communications Corp. has scooped up popular Indianapolis sports-talk radio host John Michael Vincent, better known as JMV, for its afternoon drive slot on WFNI-AM 1070, "The Fan."

JMV's new show, "The Ride," will run weekdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m starting Monday. Vincent left Clear Channel's WNDE-AM 1260 last fall with no clear next step. The 40-year-old host said Monday morning that after working a hard schedule for two years he wanted to spend more time with his 4-year-old son and newborn daughter.

As IBJ reported earlier this month, Vincent's move to the Fan was widely anticipated in local radio circles because his non-compete clause just recently expired. WFNI station manager Charlie Morgan said the timing, which coincides with Indianapolis 500 race week, couldn't be better. Emmis has exclusive local broadcast rights for the Indy 500 and "the listenership levels are gargantuan," Morgan said.

Morgan said he didn't lure JMV away from WNDE, but, "When he was suddenly no longer a competitor, it became very interesting."

JMV, whose real name is John Michael Gliva, will go head-to-head with Mark Patrick, the host at WNDE. Five years ago, JMV was Patrick's sidekick. Asked whether he anticipates any on-air rivalry, JMV said, "I don't know, I probably will be concentrating on the job at hand."