Events in Sports History in December 1996

Dec 1 Davis Cup Tennis, Malmo, Sweden: Arnaud Boetsch beats Sweden's Nicklas Kulti in closest deciding match in Cup history 7-6, 2-6, 4-6, 7-6, 10-8 to give France 3-2 victory

David Campese

Dec 1 Flamboyant Australian rugby union winger David Campese ends his 15-year, 101 Test career at Cardiff Arms Park in Wales; Wallabies beat Wales, 28-19; Campese scores record 64 career tries

Dec 1 South African cricket all-rounder Lance Klusener takes 8-64 on debut in Proteas' 329 run 2nd Test win v India in Kolkata

Wayne Gretzky

Dec 1 Wayne Gretzky becomes first and only player in NHL history to reach 3,000-point plateau (including playoffs); records an assist in NY Rangers' 6-2 win over Montreal Canadiens at Madison Square Garden

Dec 4 Orlando Magic tie NBA record of fewest points scored since inception of 24 second clock losing to Cleveland Cavalier, 84-57
Dec 5 Portland's Jermaine O'Neal at 18 becomes the youngest NBA player
Dec 7 1st Big 12 Championship Game: Texas beats #3 Nebraska, 37-27
Dec 7 5th SEC Championship Game: #4 Florida beats #11 Alabama, 45-30
Dec 7 Australian rugby union team ends 12-game European tour unbeaten after 39-19 victory over the Barbarians at Twickenham; Wallabies fullback Matt Burke scores 2 tries and lands 4 conversions, 2 penalties

Clemens Signs with Blue Jays

Dec 13 Free agent Roger Clemens signs with Toronto Blue Jays

Dec 14 62nd Heisman Trophy Award: Danny Wuerffel, Florida (QB)
Dec 18 Start of 1st Test Cricket match between Zimbabwe & England

Brett Hull Equals Father's Record

Dec 22 St Louis Blues’ right wing Brett Hull scores his 26th NHL career hat trick to reach 500 career goals in a 7-4 win over the LA Kings; with father Bobby Hull, first father/son combo to each record 500 goals

Dec 22 Steelers' Kordell Stewart runs quarterback record 80 yds for TD
Dec 22 Zimbabwe & England draw Bulawayo Test Cricket with England needing 1 run to win

Ballon d'Or

Dec 24 Ballon d'Or: Borussia Dortmund's German sweeper Matthias Sammer is named best football player in Europe ahead of PSV/Barcelona striker Ronaldo and Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer

Dec 27 Carquest Bowl 7: Miami beats Virginia, 31-21
Dec 28 India all out for 66 at Durban after making 100 in cricket 1st innings
Dec 31 63rd Orange Bowl: #6 Nebraska beats #10 Virginia Tech, 41-21