Events Date 2002 December | History by KabAstro

Dec 1 Davis Cup Tennis, Paris: Mikhail Youzhny beats Paul-Henri Mathieu 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 to give Russia 3-2 win over France; only time in event history that a 2-set deficit turned around in a live 5th rubber of a Final
Dec 2 New climate-controlled vault to conserve and display the Sarajevo Haggadah illuminated manuscript (c. 1350) dedicated in Sarajevo’s National Museum

The Two Towers

Dec 5 "The Two Towers" 2nd Lord of the Rings film directed by Peter Jackson and starring Elijah Wood and Ian McKellen premieres in New York

Film Director, Producer, and Screenwriter Peter Jackson

Adaptation

Dec 6 "Adaptation" directed by Spike Jonze, starring Nicolas Cage and Meryl Streep premieres

Dec 7 11th SEC Championship Game: #4 Georgia beats #22 Arkansas, 30-3
Dec 8 The Caribbean Community Heads of Government meet with the Government of Cuba and declare the date to be "CARICOM-Cuba Day" - To celebrate diplomatic ties between the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Cuba.

Star Trek: Nemesis

Dec 9 "Star Trek: Nemesis" film directed by Stuart Baird, and starring Patrick Stewart and Jonathan Frakes premieres

Nelly, Nickelback, Eminem Win

Dec 9 13th Billboard Music Awards: Nelly, Nickelback & Eminem win

Sakic's 500th

Dec 11 Joe Sakic scores his 500th career goal at Vancouver

Ronaldo's 2nd Win

Dec 12 Ballon d'Or: Inter/Real Madrid forward Ronaldo is named best football player in Europe for a second time ahead of Real Madrid left back Roberto Carlos and Bayern Munich goalkeeper Oliver Kahn

Dec 13 The European Union announces that Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia will become members from May 1, 2004
Dec 15 68th Heisman Trophy Award: Carson Palmer, USC (QB)
Dec 17 Second Congo War: The Congolese parties of the Inter Congolese Dialogue sign a peace accord which makes provision for transitional governance and legislative and presidential elections within two years.

The Hours

Dec 18 "The Hours" premieres in the US, based on the novel by Michael Cunningham and starring Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore and Nicole Kidman

The Two Towers

Dec 18 "The Two Towers", 2nd of the Lord of the Rings films is released. Makes US$62 opening weekend and $926 million total worldwide.

Calvin Klein Sells Company

Dec 18 Fashion designer Calvin Klein announces he is selling his company to shirt-maker Phillips-Van Heusen for $430 million

Dec 18 Governor of California Gray Davis announces the state faces a record budget deficit of $35 billion, roughly double the figure reported during his reelection campaign one month earlier

"Gangs of New York"

Dec 20 "Gangs of New York", starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Cameron Diaz, is released

Dec 20 US Senator Trent Lott resigns as majority leader.
Dec 23 A MQ-1 Predator is shot down by an Iraqi MiG-25, making it the first time in history that an aircraft and a modern unmanned drone had engaged in combat

"Chicago"

Dec 27 "Chicago" (Best Picture 2003), film based on John Kander and Fred Ebb's musical, directed by Rob Marshall, starring Renée Zellweger, Richard Gere, and Catherine Zeta-Jones is released. in NYC, Los Angeles, and select North American cities

Dec 27 Kenyan General Election: National Rainbow Coalition headed by Mwai Kibaki wins, overthrowing 39 year rule by the Kenya African National Union
Dec 27 Two truck bombs kill 72 and wound 200 at the pro-Moscow headquarters of the Chechen government in Grozny, Chechnya.