50 Cent mocks New Zealand rugby player trying to turn his life around
Puk Kireka, a Mongrel Mob member in Hastings, New Zealand, has been trying to live a healthier lifestyle.
Kireka didn’t identify as a sportsperson at high school.
“I just went to school to eat lunch and play a bit of basketball at lunchtime,” Kireka told Hawke’s Bay Today in an interview earlier this month.
The 31-year-old’s weight started to balloon in his twenties, however, which prompted Kierka to do something about his ailing health.
“Basically I just wanted to get healthy … look good and feel good,” Kireka recalled.
The father of three signed up for a 13-month fitness programme which saw his shed 31 kilograms. He is now well underway in his first season of club rugby for Hastings’ Tamatea.
The mobster, who has spent time in an out of prison since his teen years, has an incredibly prominent tattoo covering the lower half of his face, which makes him stand out from the crowd.
“I know it will be hard to get a job with my tatts,” Kireka says regarding the mob colours splashed across his face.
“I will always be a mobster but it’s important to show we can have better lifestyles. I want to bring some of the others on board this better lifestyle.
“A lot of them are still drinking and smoking. While they aren’t getting into much trouble they are still ruining their lives with their lifestyle,” Kireka stressed.
Kireka, to his credit, has been drug-free for the last four years after kicking a methamphetamine habit while in prison. His recent physical activity and commitment to living healthier shows that there’s potential for anyone to try and improve their lifestyle.
Some, however, will always find ways to criticise guys like Kireka.
Notorious UK newspaper the Sun recently published a click-bait article based on Kireka’s interview, titled “MOB JUSTICE Gangster with ‘Notorious’ tattooed across his face moans he can’t find a job”.
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByjJsMpHhTk/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
While the journalistic integrity of the Sun is questionable at best, readers should be able to make up their own views based on the reported information.
One such reader (or perhaps he just looked at the article headline) is American rapper 50 Cent.
50 Cent published a screenshot of the article to Instagram, captioning the post “What the f*** is really going on man. I wonder why he can’t get a job.”
50 Cent started dealing drugs at the age of 12 but is now considered one of the greatest rappers in the world.
It’s clear to all and sundry that Kireka has made a few errant decisions in his lifetime, but it should also be obvious that he’s now trying to create a better life for him and his family, just as 50 Cent did. The last thing that a person trying to break bad habits needs is to be continually criticised for his past choices – especially when those criticisms come from public figures.
Kireka is taking small steps to make a great change in his life – this should only be commended.
Comments on RugbyPass
Except for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
33 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
33 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
33 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
33 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
33 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
33 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
33 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to comments