Okay — I know you're out there.

And while it may not be easy defending Dan Cloutier's various failings (just ask Alanah), that's no reason to stop drinking the Kings' Kool-Aid. After all, The Battle of California needs you.

Earl Sleek is getting lonely over there, and the blog needs the injection of a world-class whipping boy to defend the basement-dwelling Kings.

So, if you're a blogger — or want to be — and, more importantly, a die hard Los Angeles Kings fan, get your application for the 'Join The Battle of California and Get Ridiculed For Life' contest now by emailing your submission to both myself and Monsieur Sleek.

I'll have the results posted intermittently between now and the end of the season, so if you know a Kings fan, let them know we're looking for them.

After all, someone's got to explain Rob Blake's plus-minus rating, and I don't know that I'm up to the challenge.