‘Protection Problems’ Would Be Least of His

After the Indianapolis Colts lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers last weekend, Peyton Manning, after saying, “I’m trying to be a good teammate here,” said his team had “protection problems.”

That prompted columnist David Thomas of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram to try to relate.

He led off his Wednesday column with:

“I’m trying to be a good teammate here. Let’s just say we had some problems in editing.

“Pretend I started a column by saying that. Actually, we don’t have to pretend, because I just did.

“But let’s pretend that I started a column by saying that and truly meant it. I don’t think I’d report to work the next day with a jolly, ‘Hey, fellers, what’s up?’ ”

Added Thomas: “No, you’re not going to see me ripping editors. At least publicly. Editors are people too. And they take great pride in their work, toiling anonymously and quietly, at least until the pizza deliverer shows up.”

Trivia time: How many years did it take for John Wooden to win his first NCAA basketball championship at UCLA?

Love connection: Matt Leinart has been dating Brynn Cameron, a sophomore on the USC women’s basketball team who is the all-time leading scorer, male or female, at Newbury Park High.

When the Trojan women play on the road, naturally she gets plenty of attention from fans. Freelance journalist Howie Stalwick, who covered the Trojans’ 81-60 victory over Washington State at Pullman, Wash., a week ago for the Associated Press, said one male fan in the crowd yelled, “Cameron, will you marry me?”

USC’s Eshaya Murphy, who had 18 points and 10 rebounds in the game, said Cameron told her, “I love these fans. It’s just fun and games.”

Not exactly Mr. Nice Guy: Skier Bode Miller told Newsweek’s Devin Gordon, “The U.S. skiing folks have really done a lot for me.”

But that doesn’t mean he is particularly fond of them. He describes them as “rich, cocky, wicked, conceited, super right-wing Republicans.” But, he adds, “The things they’ve done for me warrant respect.”

Imagine what he might say about them if they didn’t warrant respect.

Looking back: On this day in 1974, UCLA’s 88-game basketball winning streak ended with a 71-70 loss to Notre Dame, which overcame an 11-point deficit in the final 3:32. Dwight Clay’s jump shot from the right corner gave the Irish the lead.

Trivia answer: 15. Wooden’s first season was 1948-49. His first title came in 1963-64 when the Bruins went 30-0 with Gail Goodrich and Walt Hazzard.

And finally: USC men’s basketball Coach Tim Floyd told The Times’ Ben Bolch that Don Haskins, his former boss at Texas El Paso (formerly Texas Western), was happier about his 1966 national championship team’s appearance on a Wheaties cereal box than in the film “Glory Road.”

Said Floyd: “That was such a big deal to him growing up, the athletes who were on the box.”

Larry Stewart can be reached at larry.stewart@latimes.com.