- Dec 1 46th Heisman Trophy Award: George Rogers, South Carolina (RB)
Don Sutton
Dec 3 Don Sutton, the winningest pitcher in Los Angeles Dodgers history, signs a 4-year contract with Houston; Astros career shortened by a patellar fracture; returns to Dodgers in 1988 after stints with 3 other MLB clubs
Arnold Palmer Victory
Dec 7 Senior PGA Championship, Turnberry Isle CC: Arnold Palmer wins with a birdie on the 1st playoff hole against Paul Harney
- Dec 14 Minnesota Vikings pass for 456 yards against Cleveland Browns, winning 28-24
- Dec 14 New Orleans Saints end 14 game losing streak, beat NY Jets 21-20
Winfield Highest Paid
Dec 15 NY Yankee Dave Winfield becomes highest-paid player, 10 years $15M
"Raging Bull"
Dec 19 "Raging Bull", directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro as boxer Jake LaMotta and Cathy Moriarty as his wife, is released in the United States
- Dec 21 Harold Carmichael ends NFL streak of 127 consecutive game receptions
Cardinals Release Bonds
Dec 22 MLB St. Louis Cardinals release outfielder Bobby Bonds
Rummenigge Ballon d'Or
Dec 30 Ballon d'Or: Bayern Munich forward Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is named best European football player; beats German international teammate Bernd Schuster of FC Barcelona and Saint-Étienne midfielder Michel Platini
- Dec 31 NY Islanders greatest shutout margin (9-0) vs Chicago Black Hawks
Baseball Players
Basketball Stars
Boxers
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Tennis Champions