Blood lines run deeper than baselines, especially for a father and son who would normally be on opposite sides of the two bitter rivals that are contending for this year's American League pennant. Connecticut lies right in between of Boston and New York, and not surprisingly, the state is divided between fans of the two storied franchises. Bill and Kevin Rabbett normally are no different. Kevin, 50, is a die-hard Yankees fan, while his 78-year-old father, Bill, has followed the Red Sox all his life. Like many in southern New England, the two have argued over the rivalry, with Kevin coming out on top a majority of the time. However, for his father, Kevin is putting aside loyalty to the pinstripes and rooting for a bit of happiness for his ailing father. For his dad, he's hoping the Red Sox beat the Yankees and return to their first World Series since 1986. "I love my Dad more than I'll ever love the Yanks, so I hope the Boston Red Sox win it all,'' the retired postal worker from West Suffield, Conn. wrote in an America Online message board. "And if there is anyone who thinks I'm a traitor, then they don't know what love is all about.'' With his father's health deteriorating, Kevin knows this may be last shot his father has to see his lifelong dream of the Red Sox finally breaking their 85-year championship drought. "I'm not sure he will be around next season,'' the younger Rabbett wrote. Kevin putting family loyalty over team loyalty struck a nerve with subscribers, as over a thousand responses have been posted to Kevin's message. Many wrote in support of his sign of loyalty for his father, even some Yankees fans also offering their support so that Bill can enjoy some joy in what might be his final days "I, too, am a lifelong Yankee fan who enjoyed many games by my father's side,'' one Yankees fan wrote. "Since my dad is now gone and won't mind just this once if the Yankees lose, I too, will be cheering for the Red Sox so your Dad can feel the same joy my Dad felt watching his beloved Yankees win it again and again.'' "God Bless your father and the Red Sox, Kevin," a poster named Peter from Binghamton, N.Y. wrote. "I am also a Yankees fan and I live and die for them ... But if the BoSox emerge victorious a smile will cross my face through the tears and the tears will become joyous as I think of your father, you, and millions of other Boston fans.'' Rabbett was surprised by the outpouring of support for his gesture. "I'm overwhelmed and amazed,'' he said in an interview with the Boston Herald. "It's funny how a little statement like this has generated so many good feelings. I just wrote it from my heart.'' He said his father suffers from a weak heart, emphysema and blocked arteries in his legs. He also was treated for prostate cancer last year. "There's no guarantee he's going to be here next year,'' he told the paper. The Rabbetts are being sent to Saturday's ALCS game by AOL. After reading this, it just goes to show you how warm the human heart can be for sons love for his father.
