Why did they do that? That can’t possibly make sense. What a great deal. Who cares, what difference could it make?

These are the quad of fan responses to offseason moves by a professional team, college or organization. This will be the case for as long as there is a mankind. The difference now is the answer to fan approval/disapproval.

Usually it goes something like this: Look, we are not going to please everyone unless we win a championship and that’s what we think this move does for us.

That’s nice but what about the teams not going to win a championship and know they won’t – what about them?

They are trying to make news and give us something to talk about. Their executives have now become below-average promotional department workers. And I can’t tell if it’s becoming funny or just plain crazy, or both.

Case #1 – Tom Izzo was a candidate for the Michigan State football head-coaching job. Read the last line again because I recognize it doesn’t sound right.

The Spartans may not admit it but it’s true.

Shannon Shelton, who is one of the best college beat reporters in the country, wasn’t wasting her time when the Detroit Free Press printed her 600+ word story on his potential interest.

It was this media-generated phenomenon, people thinking outside the box or an idiotic booster idea. All the reigning king of East Lansing, Mich., had to do was dismiss the rumor with the coach-speak handbook everyone gets when they take a head job.

This is what he said about his interest: “I’d probably, deep down, have to say, yeah, I would.”

Translation to the now-shocked reporters: you see that pink elephant in the middle of the room? Ignore it, because I can’t lie and say it’s not there.

This chain of events led to fans, boosters and media in a major market like Detroit to speculate on if they’d actually give him the job, would he coach both basketball and football and if he could only coach football, what would they rename the Izzone student section at the Breslin Center?

Michigan State eventually hired Cincinnati head coach Mark Dantonio. Relatively boring, yes, but this logical and less-than interesting choice was followed by constant in-state chatter about the forgotten college football program in Michigan which hasn’t gone to a bowl since 2003.

The Spartan athletics department knew what they were doing – this kind of attention wasn’t accidental.

Case #2 – Chicago Bulls center Ben Wallace will not be wearing a headband.

New Chicago signee and $52 million dollar man is catching aggravation from his coach and general manager because he violated a team rule for wearing a headband.

Yes, again you read that right: the Bulls have a rule regarding headwear.

The instant reaction is why, when did this start and how will this get solved? So instead of blaming coach Scott Skiles for his inability to be successful with the team he’s always wanted: blame the new guy.

Instead of blaming the brilliant general manager John Paxson for devoting $13 million of this season’s cap to acquire a center who can’t score and has been past his prime since 2003 – a time when your main problem last season was that you couldn’t score: blame the new guy.

The Tribune, Sun Times, Comcast and WGN all had features on Wallace’s attire.

Not on their lack of a dominant scorer or long losing streak during its west-coast trip. In November, one has to make people care about NBA basketball. For the Bulls: mission accomplished.

Case #3 – With the Oakland Raiders at 2-9 and fighting for the top pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, who cares who their offensive coordinator is?

You’d think it could be Jon Voigt, and owner Al Davis would say his qualifications were his role as Bud Kilmer leading West Canaan High to its 23rd straight division title in the 1999 film “Varsity Blues” and nobody would care.

Wrong.

The Bay area is now debating who’s better: a guy who previously ran a bed-and-breakfast or former Chicago Bears offensive coordinator John Shoop.

With the 49ers in the NFC playoff race and USC headed to the national championship game, Raiders owner Al Davis has gotten attention. My suggestion: the day of Jan. 8 when USC meets Ohio State, fire Art Shell.

So, from now until Christmas there will be random signings, random hirings, random firings – and 90 percent of these deals are to draw attention.

Note: if the last two on this happen to the same person on the same day, it’s a given and don’t think it won’t happen.

Treat them like eclipses: if you ignore them they’ll stop happening.