December

2
NBA phenom Shaquille O'Neal appears on The Arsenio Hall Show and proves basketball is not his only talent: He sings with his favorite rap group. Fu-Schnickens.

3
A federal judge awards Butch Reynolds , the world-record holder in the 400 meters, $27.3 million in compensatory and punitive damages in his suit against track and field's international governing body for having suspended him for alleged drug violations.

They Said It
Paul Daugherty, " Cincinnati Post " columnist, on Red CEO Marge Schott : "We don't need a committee to tell us that Marge can make Andrew Dice Clay look like Miss Manners. In just two weeks, she has managed to offend Africans-Americans, Asians and Jews, and she hasn't even hit Europe yet."

5
In a game attended by 50 photographers, 220 journalists and eight NBA scouts, two-time defending NCAA champion Duke defeats Michigan 79-68.... John McEnroe and Pete Sampras come from a two-sets-to-none deficit to win their doubles match against Switzerland 's Marc Rosset and Jakob Hlasek and give the U.S. a 2-1 lead in the Davis Cup final. The next day Jim Courier will clinch the cup for the U.S.

8
The Giants announce the signing of Barry Bonds , who will earn—earn?—$43.7 million over the next six years, the largest contract in baseball history. In all, baseball owners this day spend more than $130 million to sign players

9
Florida Marlin president Carl Barger suffers a heart attack during baseball's winter meetings and dies during surgery.

They Said It
The Los Angeles Lakers ' Elden Campbell , asked if he had earned his degree from Clemson: "No, but they gave me one anyway."

12
Miami quarterback Gino Torretta wins the Heisman Trophy, easily beating out San Diego State running back Marshall Faulk , with Garrison Hearst of Georgia , another running back, third.

14
Expressing disgust with the WBC for stripping him of his title for refusing to defend it against Lennox Lewis , heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe dumps his WBC belt in a garbage can.

15
Thirteen months after breaking his neck in a car crash, Vinny Pazienza , former WBA world junior middleweight champ, wins a 10-round decision against Luis Santana.