- Dec 3 48th Iron Bowl: Auburn beats Alabama 23-20 in Birmingham
- Dec 3 49th Heisman Trophy Award: Mike Rozier, Nebraska (RB)
- Dec 4 NJ Devils 1st shut-out, beating Minnesota North Stars 6-0
- Dec 5 LA Dodger pitcher Steve Howe is suspended for 1 year for cocaine use
Navratilova Wins 8th Grand Slam
Dec 10 Australian Open Women's Tennis: Martina Navratilova wins 8th career Grand Slam singles event; beats Kathy Jordan of the US 6-2, 7-6
- Dec 10 Last NFL game at Shea Stadium; Steelers beat NY Jets 34-7
Wilander's 2nd Grand Slam
Dec 11 Australian Open Men's Tennis: Mats Wilander of Sweden wins 2nd career Grand Slam title; beats Ivan Lendl 6-1, 6-4, 6-4
Yogi Berra for NY Yankees
Dec 16 Yogi Berra named New York Yankees manager for 2nd time
Gretsky's 800th Point
Dec 17 In his 352nd NHL game, Wayne Gretzky scores a goal & 5 assists in 8-1 rout of Quebec Nordiques to record his 800th point and 500th assist; averages 2.27 points, 1.42 assists, 0.85 goals per game to start career
Lafleur Scores 500
Dec 20 Guy Lafleur, Montreal Canadiens, becomes 10th NHLer to score 500 goals
- Dec 20 NY Islanders score their most goals (11) vs Pitts Penguins
- Dec 21 NCAA rules rescinded last 2-minute men's basketball free throw rule
- Dec 22 Indiana Pacers win, 133-132 in Denver to end a 28 NBA game losing streak on the road
- Dec 22 NHL NY Islanders score 3 shorthanded goals against Washington Capitols
- Dec 26 Test Cricket debut of Gregory Richard John Matthews, v Pakistan at the MCG
Ballon d'Or
Dec 27 Ballon d'Or: Juventus' French midfielder Michel Platini claims first of 3 trophies for Europe's best football player ahead of Liverpool midfielder Kenny Dalgleish and Vejle BK striker Allan Simonsen
Gavaskar Surpasses Bradman
Dec 29 Indian cricket opening batsman Sunil Gavaskar scores an unbeaten 236 in drawn 6th Test v West Indies at Chennai; his 4th Test double century and 30th century, surpassing Don Bradman's record of 29