Scott has called an audible which has brought The Brightest Conversation in Hamilton to Thursday night! Joining the show tonight is Jamie West who chats with Scott about things like when the last time something has affected the world like COVID-19 has, why the borders weren't closed to flights from China sooner & more. Guest: Jamie West, Host of 'What Were You Thinking' on Global News Radio 900 CHML

It's no secret that COVID-19 and cruise lines haven't been getting along very well. With many ships being quarantined for the virus and governments advising against going on cruises, surely this hasn't been good for business. Guest: Shawna Curtin-Weatherill, Owner of Expedia Cruise Ships Centres Waterdown - Things are still looking bleak in the world of economics as the stock market continues on a downward trend. Where could things be going from here? Guest: Marvin Ryder, Professor of Marketing, DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University - The NCAA has banned fans from March Madness and now the NBA is wondering if they should follow suit. Could banning fans from games be the solution they're looking for or should the NBA opt to just put the whole league on hiatus? Guest: Rick Zamperin, Sports Director, Global News Radio 900 CHML

The Canadian National Basketball team is coming to Hamilton in June. It's been about 25 years since NBA level players have played in FirstOntario Centre which makes this upcoming game a big deal. Guest: Mike Morreale, Commissioner & CEO of Canadian Elite Basketball League - The severity of COVID-19 is becoming more and more apparent but what do you do if your job depends on giving people a good chuckle based off what's going on in the world? Editorial cartoonists are tackling that issue and tip-toeing the fine line between funny and insensitive. Guest: Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator

COVID-19 has put a pretty big dent into the side of the stock market but it doesn't stop there. The recent dropping of the price of oil is looking like it's also got some roots that come back to COVID-19. Guest: Marvin Ryder, Professor of Marketing, DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University - Keeping with the coronavirus, would people still be reacting this way if social media existed back in the day of SARS? With the flu being much deadlier than COVID-19, could that mean what people are really afraid of is the 'unknown-ness' of this new infection? Guest: Dr. Mark Busser, Academic and Experiential Learning Coordinator with the Department of Political Science, McMaster University - The Allan cup is coming to the GTHA, Charles Barkley plans on selling some of his memorabilia and some people have been found guilty of drugging race horses so they'll be faster, are you surprised? Don and Scott talk about all this and more in Sports Talk with Don Robertson. Guest: Don Robertson, Owner and Head Coach of the Dundas Real McCoys

Annette Hamm from CHCH's Morning Live joins Scott for The Brightest Conversation in Hamilton. Today's topics include tweaking the Amber Alert system, tickets to Disney World being extremely expensive, coronavirus and the importance of looks vs credentials in TV reporting.

A new face has taken the seat that oversees the city's economic development. This comes after Glen Norton has retired from the position. Now with the new director in place, what's the first order of business? Guest: Norm Schleehahn, Director of Economic Development, City of Hamilton - It's been said before and it's still being said, Hamilton's housing market is on the rise to incredible highs. With homes averaging astronomically high numbers, people are starting to wonder if this could start causing problems or if the problems are already here. Guest: Marvin Ryder, Professor of Marketing, DeGroote School of Business - If you haven't heard his name before, you might hearing about him now as he signs a new TV commentary contract. He's reaching the upper echelon with an annual salary of $17 million a year, could this spell trouble or triumph for broadcasting? Guest: Bubba O'Neil, Sports Anchor, CHCH

The province of Ontario has stood down on many key issues in the negotiations with the teachers' unions. Class sizes, online learning and more changes are set to be proposed to the unions by the government. So what was the point of them standing up to unions if they were going to stand down anyways? Guest: Bill Kelly, Host of 'The Bill Kelly Show' on Global News Radio 900 CHML - Scott & Don Robertson talk about electronic chips in hockey pucks, high-tech cheating, cheating in general and more in today's edition of Sports Talk with Don Robertson. Guest: Don Robertson, head coach and owner of the Dundas Real McCoys

Everyone likes lower taxes but that's got to come at a cost somewhere else. Council has decided that place will be at the parking meter both on Hamilton's streets and municipal parking lots. While the price of parking will go up here, how will it lower taxes everywhere else? Guest: Jason Farr, Ward 2 Councillor, City of Hamilton - COVID-19, a.k.a. coronavirus, has been shutting events down around the world and the next major event on the chopping block is the Olympics that are set to be held in Japan later this year. There's been an incredible investment already that's put it over budget, has too much money been spent to stop the event? Guest: Dr. Jules Boykoff, political science professor at Pacific University & author of 4 books on the Olympics - Being the second largest country in the world, Canada has many people spread far and wide which yields different ways of speaking over time. Although French and English are our two official languages, there's many words that mean different things depending on where you are. Scott takes Ben on a coast to coast quiz on Canadian slang.

Hamilton 100 is being given a cautious go-ahead for its bid to host the Commonwealth Games on its 100th anniversary. With past competitions running over budget, is there any way to prevent that from happening in this case should we be picked? Guest: PJ Mercanti, President of Hamilton 100 - You've read headline after headline about the coronavirus but what do you actually know about it? Is there something that you've been wanting to know that the news just hasn't covered? Why hasn't influenza received the same coverage despite being much, much worse? - The Houston Astros have been found guilty of cheating and other MLB players have taken a liking to rifling pitches at the players because of it. Should it be allowed or should every player to ever hit an Astro this year get suspended? Guest: Bubba O'Neil, Sports Anchor at CHCH

Across Hamilton, not everyone is paying the same amount of taxes and just the same, not everyone receives the same level of transit service. Should that change? Guest: Chad Collins, Ward 5 councillor, City of Hamilton - We've heard that one of the blockades near Hamilton has disbanded peacefully but there's still some that are up all across Canada. What should be done about the blockades? Is there a right way to go about this? Scott opens up the lines to hear from you. - You've likely heard about the emergency back up goalie who played for the Carolina Hurricanes against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the NHL. While this isn't the first time someone who's never played in the NHL found their way into a game as an emergency back up, there's someone from around here who came close to finding himself in this situation and Scott talks to him about exactly that. Guest: Dave Schill, former Maple Leafs goalie... kind of.

The Coronavirus has impacted the lives of many people around the world and now even more people are feeling its effects. This time, it's people's pocketbooks who are taking the hit as the stock market dives amid concerns over the virus. How long will this keep going for? Guest: Sean Moir, portfolio manager, Mandeville Private Client Incorporated - Don Robertson joins Scott tonight to talk about the potential for a door to be opened allowing women to play in the NHL, the emergency back up goalie that the Maple Leafs played against and why tough guys in hockey are key. Guest: Don Robertson, owner and head coach, Dundas Real McCoys

Stephen LaDrew and Scott talk about the cacophony surrounding the Canadian National Railway Company protests, the protestors and the Wet’suwet’en people. Bill Kelly joins Scott to talk about their greatest memories in their radio careers and from their childhoods! Lesley Stewart from CH Morning Live comes on to talk cheerleading and whether it truly is misogynistic or not.

Scott is not impressed with how the Canadian military is trying to recruit more women. But he wants to know, should the military be focused on specific demographics or just accept those who are willing and able to serve? The average price of a home in #HamOnt has risen to $617,496. Scott is joined in studio by Judy Marsales, to discuss what this means for homeowners and prospective homeowners. Rick Zamperin joins Scott to talk football and baseball

Scott has a nice conversation with himself about how happy he is with a decision City Council made... for once. Dr. Adam Chapnick elucidates to Scott why, exactly, Canada wants a seat on the UN Security Council so badly. And sports with Don Robertson! The XFL and even talking about Youngblood!

The Carmen's group is looking to building an entertainment district in Downtown Hamilton and PJ Mercante tells Scott what his vision is for redevelopment. Scott has a nice little conversation with himself about the proposed changes to news regulation. Steve Buist of the Hamilton Spectator tells Scott just who is paying for medical equipment... and the answer may shock you.

Scott talks with some callers about whether the issues with the teachers' union is rooted in sexism. Johnathan Kay tells Scott what would happen with the proposed government regulation of news media. Don Robertson and Scott address the elephant in the room: Why is Scott dressed like J Lo?