The biggest names in sports always have their close confidants. For Michael Jordan, it was Ahmad Rashad. For Kobe Bryant, Jim Gray. Barry Bonds has been able to count on Barry Bloom, and for the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Lt. Dangle, Larry King (above, right) is just a phone call away. From MLB.com (link swiped from Repoz and Baseball Think Factory) :

According to talk show host Larry King, Kent’s mind is made up, and he’ll be back in Dodgers Blue for a fourth season.

“I spoke to Jeff Kent on the phone yesterday, and Jeff’s really enthused,” King said on Saturday at his 2007 King of Hearts Awards Gala, a black-tie affair in the Beverly Hilton Hotel’s International Ballroom. “There was a question if he was going to play out the last year of his contract — no doubt about it.”

King said at the gala, which honored Dodgers owners Frank and Jamie McCourt and their work with the Dodgers Dream Foundation and Think Cure, the club’s official charity, that Kent’s eager to play for Torre, his third manager in four seasons in Los Angeles.

“He’s looking forward to playing for Joe Torre,” King said. “The community will be very happy with Joe Torre.”

Coming tomorrow from MLB.com : Joe Franklin on David Wright’s thoughts regarding the Mets’ pursuit of A-Rod.