August 7th, 2012
Gone Too Soon: Kirk Urso
Kirk Urso, of the Columbus Crew, was pronounced dead at 1:50 a.m. Sunday at Grant Medical Center after collapsing at a downtown Columbus bar and restaurant. The MLS rookie was just 22-years-old – and his untimely passing stunned not only the Crew community, but the U.S. footy community as a whole.
“It’s a shocker,” Crew president and general manager Mark McCullers told MLSsoccer.com. ”He was an unbelievable kid,” he added. “He was a kid that I would certainly point to and tell my son, ‘That’s the kind of person I want you to be.’”
Tributes from his former teammates and colleagues have been pouring in, including a heartfelt message from his fellow University of North Carolina alum, Mia Hamm, on Twitter.
Urso, a midfielder at the University of North Carolina, played in more matches than anyone in school history and had joined the Columbus Crew during the offseason between the 2011 and 2012 seasons after participating in the supplemental draft. He appeared in six games before an injury sidelined him in June.
On Monday, the coroner said Urso likely died from ‘natural’ causes, possibly related to a heart condition. Later that day, however, authorities released the 911 call from the weekend, which insinuated other causes were behind the player’s sudden death.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends as well as the club’s players and fans.
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Another heartbreaking story, rip.
we are a massive family and Kirk will be forever massive. i was shocked to pull up kickette’s website and seeing this posted. its amazing how even now that he is gone he is reaching all over the world. saturday will not be the same, nor will the rest of the season with you, Kirk. KU15 Forever.
My condolences to his family and friends. So very sad.
Kirk Urso was a great guy. May he rest in peace. My thoughts and prayers are with his family
Horrible. RIP.
Heartbreaking may he rest in peace.
RIP Kirk.. Columbus is a highly tight-knit soccer family and my thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, teammates, and fans.
That's so sad.. It'a crazy to think that I was at a bar on park street between goodale & vine and saw ambulances drive by around the time they are saying he got picked up =(. RIP Kirk, the Columbus family is keeping your family in our prayers.
So sad.
Agreed. There seem to have been a lot of young footballers dying recently.
Agreed.
I know, it's terrible. I feel for their families.