Mary Lou Retton, Doug Flutie and Bob Hope

• Posted By: Scott Harrison
• Posted On: 12:43 a.m. | July 31, 2012

December 1984: Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie and Bob Hope hoist Olympic gymnastics champion Mary Lou Retton while taping Hope’s Dec. 16 Christmas TV show.

At the 1984 summer Olympic games in Los Angeles, Retton won the gold medal for women’s gymnastics all-around. At the same Olympics, she also won two silvers and two bronze medals.

On Nov. 23, 1984, quarterback Doug Flutie’s hail mary pass led Boston College to a 47-45 victory over the Miami Hurricanes. The pass — known as “Hail Flutie” — is considered one of the greatest moments in college football.

According to the Bob on TV website, in addition to Retton and Flutie, the Dec. 16, 1984, show included Brooke Shields, Joey Lawrence, the Rose Queen and Court and the 1984 Associated Press All American Football team.

This photo by former staff photographer Scott Flynn was published as stand-alone art in the Dec. 11, 1984, Times sports section.