Jim Patten is former head of the University of Arizona's journalism department.

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Let's see. In recent days, letter writers to the Star have criticized it for running "Lute Olson stories" on Page 1 on the same day several U.S. soldiers died in Iraq and on Pearl Harbor Day, that offense described as an insult to all World War II veterans.

As a longtime journalist and journalism educator, I agree with these criticisms but urge that they go further. Star management should post a "No Lute Olson stories" sign in the newsroom not only for events such as those recently criticized, but for all the other significant days recalled by people apt to be offended by Lute stories on their special day.

The sign should begin with all religious holidays because all Star readers spend those days in solemn worship at their church, synagogue or mosque and don't want to be bothered by basketball. Super Bowl Sunday, a religious holiday in America if there ever was one, should also be on the Star's no-basketball list.

Then add Easter, Yom Kippur, Hanukkah, Christmas, Good Friday, Ramadan, Thanksgiving, Kwanzaa, Rosh Hashanah and Ash Wednesday — among dozens more the Star needs to watch out for lest the faithful feel offended.

It almost goes without saying that the Star needs to keep Page 1 clear of basketball news on Labor Day in honor of our working men and working women who spend the day counting the money they earn and dreaming about what they should earn.

And no basketball, please, on Mother's Day to show that the paper's family values are more important than hoops. People are watching.

In these patriotic times, it's inappropriate as well not to observe basketball-free front pages on President's Day. Some people think President's Day came about by squishing Abraham Lincoln's and George Washington's birthdays together. That's not so. It had to do with creating a three-day holiday to give people time to browse the auto sales. Either way, no basketball.

I could go on but just as an aid to whoever has to create the newsroom poster/no-basketball-stories sign, don't forget New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Groundhog Day, St. Patrick's Day, April Fool's Day, Cinco de Mayo, Father's Day, Armed Forces Day, Flag Day, July 4 and Halloween.

Certainly no citizen cares about basketball on those days.

I know, it gets tougher all the time to put out a newspaper. But whoever said journalism was easy?

For my part, please — and I mean this — no basketball stories once football season starts.

Above all, no basketball stories on the cover today because it's my birthday. And I expect the Star to behave accordingly.