"Everyone at Dundee United is devastated by the loss of someone who was not only our chairman but also a very close and inspirational friend, " said a statement on the club website.

BBC: Dundee Utd chairman Thompson dies

Mr. ASHDOWN: The senator is a friend of taxpayers, but that's an incorrect statement.

NPR: Origins Of Bridge To Nowhere Explained

Perhaps in a bid to avert any further diplomatic chill - relations between Manila and Kuala Lumpur are already frosty because Philippine President Joseph Ejercito Estrada has expressed support for his "friend" Anwar - presidential spokesman Fernando Barican made a statement to offset the newspapers' comments.

CNN: NATION ON TRIAL

But a statement from fellow pitcher Andy Pettitte, a close friend of Clemens' who was his teammate on the New York Yankees and Houston Astros, undercut some of Clemens' denials.

NPR: Clemens Denies Drug Use, Pettitte's Account

If you are rooting for the GOP this Fall (my friend is certainly not), there are so many things wrong with this statement, and here are just three.

FORBES: The GOP's "Please Don't Vote" Meme: Here We Go Again

"The devoted husband, father of three, grandfather of five, and friend to all who knew him, will be greatly missed by his family and community, " the statement said.

WSJ: Family, Colleagues Grieve for Slain Judge, John Roll