NorCal, SoCal sling the slang: 49ers and Rams fans know who’s who by their way with words

We’re at it again.

LA vs. SF.

NorCal vs. SoCal.

A Golden State battle for a trip to the Super Bowl and the renewal of our uncivil war, the War Between the State, our War of Mutual Aggression.

San Francisco 49ers vs. the Los Angeles Rams for the NFC Championship. Sunday. Los Angeles.

In October, a once-upon-a-time three months ago, Dodger Blue met the Orange and Black in an epic five-game Division Series thriller by the Bay that ended with That Check Swing.

Ah, hostilities.

Now, the stage is set again. The Niners stole Green Bay’s dream season with The Block Heard ‘Round the World and now face a Rams team that tried its best to give it all away in Tampa Bay.

Ess Eff vs. Ellay. Tinseltown vs. The City by the Bay, the Faithful threatening to turn SoFi into The ‘Stick one more time vs. Rams fans counting the days until Trojan football returns to the Coliseum (Fresno State, Sept. 17, tickets still available).

Fight on.

Niners-Rams: A state divided, two states in one, will watch together on Sunday. Enjoy the dividing lines, here’s your checklist of which side you belong:

The ‘The’

Do the words “The ‘50’” or “The ‘80’” make your teeth itch? Then you’re a Northern Californian. Southern Californians just can’t help themselves: “My bro’s in Santa Monica. I took the 2 to the 5 to the 405 and hung a left on Cloverfield.” Nobody cares. Talk about “The 80,” better be talking about Jerry Rice.

SoCal

Northern Californian-ease for that place south of the Grapevine. Clever Southern Californians will respond with “NoCal.”

“NoCal?” Not cool.

It’s NorCal, thank you.

Bayarrrrea

The San Francisco Bay Area, as pronounced by a Bayarrea — sorry — Bay Area native.

‘The Catch’

Joe Montana’s lofting touchdown pass to an impossibly outstretched Dwight Clark in the waning minutes of the NFC Championship game 40 years ago sent Candlestick Park into delirium, the hated — and heavily favored — Cowboys packing for Dallas, and the 49ers to their first Super Bowl, changing the franchise forever. Nine out of 10 Niners fans support making Jan. 10 a state holiday. But, pull up a chair SoCal sports fans: That was Hall of Fame broadcaster and Dodgers icon Vin Scully with the legendary call.

The Desert

Northern Californian: *blank stare.*

Southern Californian: The strand of cities two hours east on the 10 where your daughter and her friends went to Coachella; where you went for your spa-and-golf getaway; and where your folks have a condo and were at the Ralphs the other night where they swear they saw that guy who was in that thing with the girl on that Netflix show.

Cali

Short for California. No one should use this term.

“Going back to Cali?” I don’t think so.

King-size

California, the state big enough for two Kings, the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings and yourrr Sacramento Kings. One team skates, the other is skating on thin ice. Run, Buddy, run!

L.A.

On this we all agree. North or south, L.A. is well, L.A. Angelenos love L.A. (Randy Newman, if you please?).

Though San Francisco fans prefer to use it in a sentence:

“Beat L.A.”

This story was originally published January 27, 2022 at 7:06 AM.

Darrell Smith

The Sacramento Bee

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Darrell Smith is a local reporter for The Sacramento Bee. He joined The Bee in 2006 and previously worked at newspapers in Palm Springs, Colorado Springs and Marysville. Smith was born and raised at Beale Air Force Base and lives in Elk Grove.