My Rose Bowl story isn't nearly as interesting as your's but it was a milestone in my life.

In 1990 I was invited to fly to LA for the Rose Bowl. USC was playing Michigan (I think it was Michigan). My friend was finishing up his graduate degree and I sat with him and the rest of the USC students.

Good game, two interesting things happened. First, I was walking around campus with him and we went into to bookstore and bought a bottle of Evian. I never had it before and opened it up expected something... it was water... so I said "wait a minute, I just paid $1.00 for a bottle of water?".

Second, after the game we went on the 5-hour drive to LV. This was my first trip to LV and we stayed in the Manor at Circus Circus. Yes it was a dump back then but the place was incredible. I've been there twice a year ever since.