The debate has been ongoing here since opening day 2005, the Dodgers playing the Giants, Kent unapproachable and abrasive as everyone predicted, while also proving to be the consummate professional, every play mattering to him as if the fans deserved to get his full effort.
Why so dedicated to being remembered as a jerk rather than the 20th-round draft choice who went on to hit more home runs than any other second baseman in history?
"No doubt I've been tough on the media," he says. "But there's always been a part of me fearful of letting people know too much about me and it affecting my game."
Maybe so, but what a shame if he leaves this game known better for the way he treated writers than opposing pitchers.
"That would be sad," says Dodgers Manager Joe Torre. "Some guys are like that, though, and need the curtain to separate themselves from everyone to be competitive. I caught for Bob Gibson in an All-Star game, went out to the mound and he wouldn't talk to me.
"I knew Jeff from seeing him on ESPN, the impersonal look on his face and the same replays showing him mixed up with Barry Bonds. But I've come to know him, and baseball is very personal to him -- even though he keeps it personal."
Kent might treat everything but the game as a distraction, but it's hard to find an athlete smarter or more insightful on those rare occasions when the mask does come off.
"Tough, and not always in a good mood, sure," Kent says, and insisting for so long that it doesn't matter to him what people think, he continues to protest.
"Difficult to approach, yeah, but I wouldn't say jerk," he says, and the argument is on once again with Page 2.
Sure going to miss that.
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ANDRUW JONES came off the bench to single in a run, giving him 13 RBIs, the Dodgers paying him almost $1.4 million per RBI. And some folks say the Parking Lot Attendant doesn't spend money.
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NOMAR GARCIAPARRA is going to miss time with a sore knee, leaving Angel Berroa in his place.
So it will be interesting to see who the Dodgers acquire in a trade before Thursday's deadline to play shortstop.
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T.J. Simers can be reached at t.j.simers@latimes.com.
To read previous columns by Simers, go to latimes.com/simers.
