CINCINNATI -- The last time the Bengals won a playoff game was in the 1990 season. That was a long time ago.
The last time the Bengals won a playoff game, I wasn't born yet (my parents were graced with my presence two years later). My boss was a 1-year-old. And both of our jobs -- managing a website for a local news organization, managing social media accounts -- definitely didn't exist.
But for those of you who were alive in 1990 (and old enough to remember it), here are 9 things that happened the same year the Bengals won a playoff game:
9. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air debuted -- and was quite controversial.
What?! NBC is making a show about a RAPPER?! (Yes, Will Smith was just some punky rapper in 1990.) Now he's a dad, just as dorky as the rest of them, and "Fresh Prince" reruns are shown late on Nick at Nite. Cause, you know, they're vintage.
8. Ice Ice Baby came out and was fireeeee.
Yeah, people were singing Ice Ice Baby for real and not ironically in 1990. And Vanilla Ice was hot (apparently), not creepy and weird.
7. Germany was becoming one country again.
The Berlin Wall symbolically "came down" in November of 1989, but its destruction wasn't officially gone until 1992. The photo above is on New Year's Day, 1990.
6. Christina Applegate was a rebellious daughter and Ed O'Neill was a (relatively) young dad at the end of his rope.
Yeah, Christina Applegate wasn't playing the role of a level-headed professional woman or a caring, compassionate mom. She was 90s Kelly Bundy on "Married...with Children." And her dad -- known today as grandpa Jay Pritchett on "Modern Family" -- was exasperated dad Al Bundy.
5. People just said George Bush and it was clear that you were talking about the president.
George W. Bush wasn't really a thing yet. Well, sort of. He was "first kid" in 1990 and kind of a goofball. He bought (part of) the Texas Rangers in 1989 and campaigned for his dad. He started his political career by campaigning as governor five years later.
4. This commercial was new, effective and deeply emotional.
People weren't mocking it with memes -- cause, you know, memes didn't exist -- or imitating it whenever someone fell down. This was powerful stuff back in 1990.
3. Madonna "Vogued" for the first time.
Or at least the first time that we know of.
2. This was a real cellphone commercial.
"Having a phone in your car isn't that unusual...except when it LEAVES YOU CAR!" Whaaaaaaaaaat?! You've got to be kidding. That thing is HUGE!
1. The Reds won The World Series.
The REDS won THE WORLD SERIES. Maybe there was something in the Cincinnati water in 1990. What other possible explanation is there?
