I defeated Castlevania II: Simon's Quest yesterday for the first time since 1988 when it first came out.  I downloaded for the Wii and beat it in two days.  So why is this important.  The year 1988 was very important to me.  I turned 8, discovered video games and football.  This was the first year I watched a Bengals game, too.  The Bengals are the my only favorite sports team. 

1988 also represented the last time the Bengals were good.  We were in a Super Bowl and I had hope!  I think about all that has happened since I was 8 years old.  Now, I am thirty and frustrated as ever.   Have the Bengals really been this bad for this long?  Have we really not won a playoff game in 20 years?  Have we underperformed every year despite having talent on our roster (Corey Dillion, Boomer Esiason, Chad, TJ, Palmer, TO, JJO, Hall)?

I yearn for the days when I was 8 years old playing Castlevania.  I yearn for the days when the Bengals could compete for a Super Bowl.  It seems we are further than ever.