It’s ironic timing, yet very fitting that my subject matter for this story comes on the eve of the conclusion of the Golf Channel’s Fore Inventors Only. After all, this new program, which was conceived by the same people who created "The Big Break" program series, helped begin the process of taking my Thumbs Down method efforts for the past 10+ years to the next level.

On a perfect weather Labor Day late afternoon, after dropping my daughter off at college for her freshman year, I kicked back and watched two major league battles in two sports I love to watch, golf and tennis. These events were especially special because it was the final round of the first ever playoffs in golf, at the Deutsche Bank Championship and the end of the first week at the US Open in tennis, which is always a treat. These events were particularly timely for me because they followed an emotional week, where my daughter developed a nasty throat infection and missed all the weekend activities that the university planned for incoming freshman, prior to her first day of classes (today).

As I constantly switched back to watch every stroke from both events, a strange thought and question crossed my mind that went something like this: What’s the greatest invention of my lifetime? The TV, PC, golf and automobile have to rank as 4 of the my top 5, but watching these events almost simultaneously made one stand out high and above the rest, especially when dealing with a sports freak (ME) and my description of late weekend heaven. The winner in my book as the most useful and valuable tools during my lifetime is the TV remote control.

There’s no question of the importance of the computer and specifically the laptop, a handy device I’d have difficulty doing without. How else could I bring you such an entertaining story as this one? But the personal computer ranks as a distant fifth to the others and especially to the remote control. Living equidistant between New York and Philadelphia really helps because there’s a choice of channels between both major markets, which usually assures easy viewing with just a press or two.

On this Labor Day Monday you couldn’t have asked for more action and drama as I watched the back nine on NBC where Phil Mickelson battled head to head in a 2-some against Tiger Woods, holding on to win the second leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs, while a five set thriller on CBS between James Blake and Tommy Haas was televised at the US Open. Their match jockeyed back and forth, with both players ahead then behind, each with match points until Haas finally won it with an ace that made it in by ¼ inch during the tie-breaker.

So, what do you think is the greatest invention of your lifetime? Also, after tonight’s conclusion to Fore Inventors Only, I’d like your opinion of who the winner should be. If you didn’t watch the show you can see the inventions at http://www.golfchannel.com/. I’m interested in knowing if you watched the show and if you voted. If yes, who did you vote for? If no, who do you think should have won? Please email me your comments at ajm.ME@thumbsdown.info.

...AND DON’T FORGET I’m offering a special for a limited time to customers and subscribers (you) to improve your ball striking with my Front Nine eBook for under $10, then get a 100% trade in (which means it's FREE), to celebrate the opening of the new Back Nine and release of the Pro Plus editions of Thumbs Down, the virtual golf lesson.

Both include foundation ball strikng information and drills that are priceless, for less than the price of a round of golf and lunch at a typical country club. PLUS, I include a virtual lesson using the internet, which let’s us connect to review the lessons and answer questions, just like as if we were together. Please visit my website www.golfinstructionmadesimple.com/ and www.golfinstructionmadesimple.com/order.htm for product details.

Author's Bio: 

I’m a passionate amateur golfer for over 40 years who invented the next "big idea" in golf in the process of fixing my own out of control slice in the mid 1990's. From that experience I developed a series of unique golf instruction How To guides and products, designed to appeal to the masses; ten’s of millions of everyday golfers and even non-golfers. Each product turns golf into business because they can be personalized and double as the next great promotional items for business since the logo golf ball.