Forties Fantasies: In light of numerous New...

Forties Fantasies: In light of numerous New Year’s Day references by writers and broadcasters to blazing 40-yard dash times by football players--such as Miami’s Kevin Williams running 4.28 for 40 yards--let’s take a look at Ben Johnson’s 100-meter race at the 1988 Olympics.

Never mind for a moment that Johnson later tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. Fact is, he covered 100 meters in 9.79 seconds, the fastest ever.

At 40 meters, electronic timing caught him at 4.69 seconds, Carl Lewis at 4.81 seconds. Forty meters is 43.76 yards, the difference being about one stride. Also, consider that when coaches time football players, the players often run on grass, in football shoes and not from starting blocks.

Lastly, Morning Briefing reader Bruce Horn of Studio City calculates that Johnson’s time at 40 yards in that 1988 race was 4.39 seconds, Lewis’ 4.49.

Still No. 1: Mike Frankovich, the Hollywood producer who died New Year’s Day, still holds the oldest UCLA football record.

On the last play of a game against Oregon at Portland in 1932, Frankovich, a tailback, teamed with Ransom Livesay on a 93-yard touchdown pass play. It’s still the longest-ever at UCLA and the play gave the Bruins a 12-7 victory.

Frankovich also holds the UCLA school record for the longest dropkick--a field goal of 27 yards in 1933. He is in the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame.