Michael offered little explanation when he left the airwaves at rival station WNDE-AM (1260) last November.

In subsequent months, the Colts advanced to Super Bowl XLIV and Butler University’s basketball team made a run to the NCAA tournament championship game.

WFNI general manager Charlie Morgan said Michael is primed to sound off during his new show, which will air 3 to 7 p.m.

“I think he can do 3 to midnight for the first six months because of pent-up stuff he needs to get off his chest,” Morgan said.

Michael’s competition at WNDE is Mark Patrick. Michael served as Patrick’s sidekick on WNDE before Patrick exited in 2005 to take a job with XM Satellite Radio’s Major League Baseball channel.

"The Ride" succeeds the “Kravitz & Eddie” show at WFNI. Indianapolis Star columnist Bob Kravitz left that program in March, while co-host Eddie White moved to part-time duties at the station earlier this month.

Throughout 2008 and during the first half of 2009, Michael attracted more listeners in a head-to-head battle with Kravitz and White.

Morgan acknowledged the financial advantage of hiring a single host to do a job previously done by two.

“Part of my job is to make sure I provide the best return on investment as possible,” Morgan said.

According to Arbitron statistics for the months January through March, WFNI’s afternoon programming attracted 5,400 listeners per average 15-minute segment. WNDE’s programming attracted 3,200 listeners.