Events in Sport
- Dec 1 Romanian 5-time Olympic gold medal winning gymnast Nadia Comăneci arrives in NYC requesting political asylum to the United States; granted
- Dec 2 55th Heisman Trophy Award: Andre Ware, Houston (QB)
- Dec 2 54th Iron Bowl: Auburn beats Alabama 30-20 in Auburn
Event of Interest
Dec 3 Stefan Edberg of Sweden claims his first and only ATP Masters Grand Prix tennis title with a 4–6, 7–6, 6–3, 6–1 win over defending champion Boris Becker at Madison Square Garden, NYC

Boris Becker
- Dec 11 Mark Davis signs record $3.25 million per year KC Royals contract
- Dec 13 Walter Davis (Denver) ends NBA free throw streak of 53 games
- Dec 16 Commencement of 1st Test Cricket play at Bellerive Oval, Hobart (v SL)
- Dec 17 78th Davis Cup: Germany beats Sweden in Stuttgart (3-2)
- Dec 17 Michael Bevan scores cricket century on 1st-class debut (114 SA v WA)
Event of Interest
Dec 19 Larry Bird (Celtics) begins NBA free throw streak of 71 games

Larry Bird
Event of Interest
Dec 26 ODI cricket debut for Australia's Mark Taylor and Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya at the MCG

Sanath Jayasuriya
- Dec 27 Oregon begins taking bids on NBA games
Event of Interest
Dec 29 Wayne Gretzky and Martina Navratilova, named athletes of decade by the Associated Press

Wayne Gretzky

Martina Navratilova
Birthdays in Sport
- Dec 2 Matteo Darmian, Italian soccer full-back (36 caps; Torino, Manchester United), born in Legnano, Milan, Italy
- Dec 4 Pornanong Phatlum, Thai golfer (British Open 2018 runner-up), born in Khon Kaen, Thailand
- Dec 7 Kyle Hendricks, American MLB pitcher (Chicago Cubs), born in Newport Beach, California
- Dec 8 Drew Doughty, Canadian hockey player, born in London, Canada
- Dec 21 Mark Ingram Jr., American football running back (Heisman Trophy 2009, U of Alabama; NFL Pro Bowl 2014, 17, 19; New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens), born in Hackensack, New Jersey
- Dec 29 Nathan Forbes, English football player, born in Sheffield, United Kingdom
- Dec 29 Kei Nishikori, Japanese tennis player (11 singles titles, only Japanese player ranked in top 10), born in Matsue, Japan
- Dec 30 Ryan Sheckler, American professional skateboarder
Deaths in Sport
Billy Martin
Dec 25 Billy Martin, American baseball 2nd baseman (MLB All Star 1956; World Series 1951, 52, 53, 56; NY Yankees) and manager (World Series 1977 NY Yankees), killed in a car accident at 61

Billy Martin
Doug Harvey
Dec 26 Doug Harvey, Canadian ice hockey defence player ('100 Greatest NHL Players), dies of cirrhosis of the liver at 65

Doug Harvey