In his Tenaya Middle School yearbook, Kevin Federline was named "Most Likely to be Seen on 'America's Most Wanted.' "
Two weeks ago, Federline was sitting snug next to Britney Spears on the cover of People magazine above the headline, "We're Engaged."
That's when he really became America's Most Wanted.
People wanted information: "Who is Kevin Federline?"Tabloids wanted dirt: "What juicy info you got on him? "Locals wanted their 15 seconds of fame: "I knew him. Listen to my story."
All the while, Federline, 26, was becoming the most famous backup dancer since Tupac Shakur. You probably didn't know Federline's name before he became Spears' fiance June 25, and certainly not before they began dating in April.
That is, unless you are related to him, remember him from his school years in Fresno and Clovis, used to skateboard or dance with him or just watch music videos really, really closely. Federline's fame came as a sidekick. He danced for Michael Jackson, LFO, Pink and Spears' ex, Justin Timberlake. He had a small role as a dancer in the movie "You Got Served. "See, he's always been the man next to the man. And now he's the man next to the pop princess.
That's what's most fascinating about this. Here's a kid from Fresno who moved to Los Angeles to chase his dream of being a dancer, goes without media fare for years, then overnight becomes a celebrity by association. Suddenly, the world has caught Kevin Federline fever. And the guy who was content to be in the background has been thrown into the spotlight.
Federline had a 2-year-old daughter with actress Shar Jackson, 27, and she's pregnant with another. Spears went through a quickie Las Vegas wedding and annulment in January. That, combined with Britney's undeniable star power, have made them perfect tabloid targets.
Lately, British tabloids have been in town, sniffing out dirt on Federline. VH1 cracked jokes about him on its show "Best Week Ever," slowing down music videos and spot-shadowing Federline's dancing. The magazine Us Weekly tracked down his aunt and some of his friends from Los Angeles and then ran a short "Who is Kevin Federline?" story.
Dance Empowerment, the Fresno-based dance school where Federline began his dance career, has been so flooded with press requests that the owner hired a publicist to handle all the attention.
The tabloids have been trying to lure people to dish dirt on Federline with promises of a payday and brief fame. Some have bitten, others haven't. Two of his former Fresno-girlfriends have talked about him.
Another was stalked by tabloid reporters offering money for a story, and she refused repeatedly to the point of tears.
In bars, Federline has become a talking point. Strangers jump into conversations about Federline to say, "Oh, I knew him." Bloggers in town have been on the story on their computers since the engagement news broke. They've also became the hub for Federline gossip.
On July 1,
www.fresyes.com confirmed Federline was a Fresnan, and later that day
www.fresnofamous.com's blog produced a picture from the Bullard High School yearbook, courtesy of its editor-in-chief who went to school with Federline.
Almost a week later, the blog produced the Tenaya Middle School picture where Federline was named "Most Likely to be Seen on 'America's Most Wanted.' "These were followed, of course, by wisecracks from readers. But even the blog editor admits she doesn't know Federline that well.
An anonymous post on
www.livejournal.com said, "There's quite a bit I know about Kevin that I'm sure he wouldn't want everyone to know about."
That's the burden of celebrity. Regular skeletons in the closet becomes headlines. Especially if you're engaged to Britney Spears.
High school pot smoking, having a few girlfriends, getting in trouble at school, starting a junior high "gang" -- all rumors associated with Federline -- are the things gossipers salivate about.
He's not talking to confirm or deny any of this. Neither is his family. And Mrs. Federline-to-be sure isn't saying anything beyond the "I kissed a bunch of frogs and finally found my prince" line she's been giving the press.
Despite the media blitz, it seems that no one really has gotten to the real Kevin Federline.Maybe one day, there will be a tell-all book. Until then, there are rumors.
The latest is that Spears refuses to sign a prenuptial agreement and in doing so, Federline stands to gain half of her estimated net worth of $100 million if they divorce after their rumored fall wedding.
It seems the Tenaya Middle School yearbook was right. Kevin Federline is wanted. But not by law enforcement. By tabloids, by media and, most importantly, by Britney Spears.
The question is, for how long?
Article - Will the real Kevin Federline please stand up.. 
