No wonder a lawyer friend of mine, who last year turned 50, shrinks from some of the books I recommend to him.

FORBES: Sex, Death ... and Reading

When that appearance got nixed by Armstrong's doping-related ban, "a friend of mine who had been No. 80 on the waiting list for a hotel room in Kona suddenly got a call that a room was available, " says Bob Babbitt, a pioneer of the sport.

WSJ: Triathlons Part Waters for Lance Armstrong

With all due respect to my friends in the media, let me paraphrase the late Senator Lloyd Bentsen: I know Geert Wilders, Geert Wilders is a friend of mine and Geert Wilders is no fascist, demagogue or extremist.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: The Anti-Fascist

But as far as I know, there is no version for a band with a solo violinist, so I asked a composer friend of mine to make an arrangement for us.

CNN: Musician's passionate journey through Buenos Aires