If imitation is indeed the sincerest form of flattery, then count Gordon Keith as a Jerry Jones fan.

Keith's impersonation of the Cowboys owner has become a Monday morning staple on Sportsradio KTCK-AM (1310) and FM (96.7) The Ticket during the NFL season.

When Wade Phillips coached the Cowboys, tapes of the bits that included Keith's "Fake Jerry" and George Dunham's "Fake Wade" were must-listen fodder during Cowboys season at weekly Fox Sports NFL meetings in Los Angeles.

By the way, after all these years (and Keith cannot remember when he launched Fake Jerry) the real Jerry, who is a fan, often refers to the character as the "Fake Jonesy."

Mike Fernandez, who produces Keith, Dunham and Craig Miller's "Musers" show on The Ticket, believes Fake Jerry debuted in 1997.

No matter. Fernandez is positive it is the longest running "Fake" bit in the Musers' repertoire.

Here's Keith, via email exchange, on Fake Jerry:

Whose idea was the Fake Jerry?

Keith: I'm not sure if there was any one person who said, "someone should impersonate Jerry Jones." I think that's just something you know because it's a fact of the universe. Babies are born with that knowledge someone should impersonate Jerry Jones. As to how it went down, I'm sure it probably happened after I first heard one of Jerry's press conferences.

I've always been fascinated with people's verbal quirks, so I probably thought, "Who the hell talks like this? He's amazing." And he is. Every sentence is a masterpiece of verbal splatter paint. His thoughts scurry in every direction, as if shots were fired. His answers contain more switchbacks than a mountain road. So I probably started imitating him as he spoke, repeating his sentences at first, then began exaggerating his patterns to make it funnier, and then one of the other guys probably said, "We have to do this on the air." Then viola -- 25 years of job security. Thank you, Jerry.

Was he the first of the "Fakes"?

Keith: In my memory, we were trying to come up with a name to call him, Larry Jones, Owner Man, GM Jones, etc. And then it occurred to me "Fake Jerry" would be hilarious. It's revolutionary! Clever! We acknowledge the artifice right up front, yet we pretend he's real as we do it! The duality! Brilliant! Now I realize I probably ripped it off from Norm MacDonald, who was hosting "The Fake News" on SNL at the time. But oh well. One of the Apostles probably had a "Fake Jesus" that really broke 'em up in lighter moments.

Is Fake Jerry hard to pull off?

Keith: Actually, he is. Not compared to ditch digging or bomb disposal, but compared to other voices I do that aren't so gravelly. He's the one voice that I should probably warm up for, but I forget. About half the time, it takes about four sentences of the bit before I even sound like him.

Have you ever done Fake Jerry in front ofJerry or any of his family members?

Keith: Unfortunately, I have. There have been several times when Jerry and I were at the same party and he somehow gets wind that Fake Jerry is there and calls me over to do it for him. Of course being Jerry, he gets the name wrong. Calls him Fake Jonesy or something. It's always incredibly awkward because I can't do the voice very loudly. I have to fight the party atmosphere, so I have to lean into Jerry's ear and whisper it like a lover. And he is always like, "hmmm, that's cool... now do the Fake Jonesy!"

I know his kids have heard it. I think Charlotte, whom I love, listens somewhat regularly. I don't think Gene would hear it even if she listened. She tuned out his voice a long time ago. This is handcrafted, long-term marriage humor I'm offering free of charge.

So Jerry is enamored with Fake Jerry?

Keith: He always seems very excited about it like he just learned about it the week before. And we've probably gone through this six times.

Has the Fake Jerry ever called anyone on thephone and acted as if he was Jerry?

Keith: I'm sure I have and it probably didn't go well because my Fake Jerry sounds nothing like the real Jerry Jones. Mine is such a caricature. A few years ago, I decided to debut a much more accurate Fake Jerry. I felt I had his actual voice down pretty good, so cue the boyish excitement of giving your mom a drawing that took you longer than 10 minutes. Well, I did it. And everyone hated it. They wanted totally unrealistic and wildly inaccurate Fake Jerry. So I switched back in defeat and never found my soul mate or a lasting peace.

What's your favorite real Fake Jerry tale?

Keith: It is something that happened at a party in Malibu a couple years ago. It was a fancy house and some notable people were there. The musical guest on the patio was Kenny Loggins. I walk into the living room and notice Lee Majors, who was the biggest star in the world when I was a little kid. He's just sitting there on this white couch, vacantly nursing a drink. I go over and talk with him for about 20 minutes. Nice guy ...

We talk and go our separate ways. About half an hour later, I bump into Jerry Jones, who is a little warm with drink and feeling fraternal. My co-host George Dunham leans in and with evil in his heart tells Jerry that I am the Fake Jerry.

Well, Real Jerry lights up, and is so excited to hear news that's breaking for only the sixth time. His head starts swiveling, scanning the room. He spots Majors, TV's Six Million Dollar Man, and says 'Hey, Lee! Come on over here. This is great!' Lee hobbles over from the couch and stands beside me blinking as Jerry enthusiastically announces, 'Lee, this is the Fake Me!' Lee looks at me, dark hair, bearded, 30 years younger. He pauses, waits for additional information, gets none, shakes my hand, then wanders over to the couch where he sinks back into former TV star silence.