Whether it’s because of the heated rivalry between the NBA’s Kings and Lakers, or the more generic feud between Northern and Southern Californians, most Sacramento sports fans dislike anything from Los Angeles. Jim Rome, a lifelong Los Angelean might be the only exception.

Rome hosts the nationally syndicated “Jim Rome Show” on the Premier Radio Networks, as well as a nightly television talk show, “The Last Word” on FOX Sports Net.

This empire is affectionately called “The Jungle.” The empire’s loyal subjects call themselves “clones” because of their tendency to take on the personality traits of their outspoken, in-your-face leader.

Most sports fans either love him or hate him. Last Saturday when Rome brought his World Tour to Arco Arena for the second time in two-and-a-half years, 16,000 fans showed him nothing but love.

It’s hard to describe what a Tour Stop is to someone who is not familiar with Rome’s show. It’s Part lecture, part stand-up comedy, and part rock concert; a Tour Stop is probably best described simply as an unforgettable experience.

The show included guests such as Oakland Raiders Tyrone Wheatley and Randy Jordan, and Sacramento Kings Mike Bibby and Bobby Jackson. Kings co-owner Gavin Maloof and the team’s general manager Geoff Petrie also made appearances. What makes the show different than any other is Rome himself.

Sam Maestas, a marketing specialist for a local mortgage company and a graduate of Sac State, has been a fan Rome’s for several years.

“He tells it like it is,” Maestas said. “Lots of talk show hosts say that’s what they do, but ‘Romey’ is the only one who really does (tell it like it is).”

Indeed, in today’s society, where everyone is so politically correct and so intent on not hurting anyone’s feelings, Rome stresses personal accountability from everyone from Chris Webber, to his own call screener, to the callers themselves. I don’t know about anyone else, but nothing hurts my ears more than to hear someone call a radio show and say, “Hi, my name is Bob. I’m a Cowboy fan and we might be 0-3, but we’re still the best team in the National Football League and everybody else sucks.”

The rules in “The Jungle” are simple: 1) Have a take and don’t suck. 2) If you suck, you will get run.

Translation: Know what you’re talking about, or you will be subject to endless ridicule.

At a Tour Stop, the intensity of “The Jungle” is ratcheted up about 1,000 percent. There are no FCC regulations at a live appearance, and no one is safe from Rome’s wrath. As an example, take his diatribe on former figure skater-turned-celebrity boxer Tonya Harding, who recently admitted that she is an alcoholic:

“So, Tonya has a problem with alcohol, huh? No way!” Rome said on stage Saturday afternoon. “What? Do you think she came up with that idea to hire those two guys to take a lead pipe to Horseface’s (Nancy Kerrigan’s) knee when she was sober?”

Even the Sacramento Kings’ Vlade Divac, who could not make it to the show because he got stuck in an airport, took some from the host.

“Airport my ass,” Rome said. “Tell the truth. He’s just upset that he can’t smoke his ‘lung darts’ in the building, isn’t he?”

In the end, by professing his dislike for his hometown Lakers and proclaiming Sacramento the, “Mother of All Tour Stops” for a second time, Rome’s legion of fans in the valley remained strong and only looks to grow as time goes on.