over the fan’s heckling. That may be one of the least surprising things that’s happened this month.)
Who, also, could have imagined that the Dodgers would win 100 games in the regular season and then flame out — uh, stop right there. ...
• The point? Expectations can be their own all-consuming burden. Predictions and forecasts are good for starting conversations and often not much else. ...
• The Riley stuff is crazy, by the way. I’m not sure that there’s an official line on this at any of the Las Vegas establishments, but BetOnline.ag lists him as 3-1 to not only be fired but to be the next to go, and I’m guessing these odds were posted only because the Bubbas who support Texas A&M came up with a king’s ransom to make Jimbo Fisher go away. USC would need to scrape up a sum estimated at between $80 million and $90 million to pay off his 10-year contract, and while influential USC boosters have been known to be rich and impatient — which is an often toxic combination, after all — this is nowhere close to the same scenario. ...
• Those odds, by the way, should be considered for entertainment purposes only. Christopher Browne, media relations director of the American Gaming Association, noted in an email a couple of months ago that BetOnline.ag “is an unregulated, offshore sportsbook, so any Americans betting on this site would be doing so illegally.” ...
• More “entertainment,” unless you’re Brandon Staley or someone close to him: The Chargers coach now seems to be the consensus next NFL head coach to be fired according to a number of betting services, none of which seem to take into account the history of the team or owner he works for. The NFL does stand for “Not For Long,” and the expectations — there’s that word again — were immense going into the season, so a quicker hook is not totally inconceivable. But again, keep in mind that no coach has been released in midseason on Dean Spanos’ watch.
Then again, one win this week over the hapless Patriots — and whoever thought we’d use those words in that combination — and Staley’s job security goes up. Doesn’t it? ...
• Statistic for those in Southern California to send to friends and relatives in New England: Bill Belichick’s career record as a head coach without Tom Brady as his starting quarterback is 78-96, including this season’s 2-9.
And another comparison to hit ‘em with while you’re at it: High temperature in Los Angeles on Wednesday: 65. High in Boston: 35, and just wait until it starts snowing. ...
• The Baseball Hall of Fame ballot came in the mail Tuesday, and no, I will not disclose my vote until the day the results are announced. But I can tell you that Adrián Beltré should be a shoo-in in his first year on the ballot, and Todd Helton (72.2 percent of the vote last year) should also get in.
Former Dodgers on the ballot in addition to Beltré: Adrián González, Andruw Jones, Manny Ramirez, Jimmy Rollins, Gary Sheffield and Chase Utley. Former Angels: Bobby Abreu, Bartolo Colon, Torii Hunter and Francisco Rodriguez. ...
• Add Halls of Fame: Iconic Chargers tight end Antonio Gates is one of 25 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, with the inductees to be announced Feb. 8, three nights before the Super Bowl in Las Vegas.
And Reggie Bush will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame this coming Tuesday night, also in ‘Vegas. Obviously, the National Football Foundation is a bit more realistic, or at least forgiving, than either the NCAA or the Heisman Trust. ...
• Condolences to and prayers for the family of Landon Negri, one of our own, a copy editor at SCNG who passed away earlier this week. Landon was a writer and sports editor for The Californian in Temecula when we first crossed paths, and eventually joined us at The Press-Enterprise. He was a versatile writer and storyteller, and best of all, he cared — about his craft and about people, those he wrote about and those of us he worked with.
He was a professional, and a friend, and we will miss him dearly.
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