Major League Soccer arose on Sunday morning to devastating news after the Columbus Crew announced that rookie midfielder Kirk Urso had passed away. He was 22.
The Crew issued a statement saying only that Urso had died, and that the cause of death was still being determined.
A four-year starter for the University of North Carolina, Urso captained the Tar Heels to the 2011 National Championship before being taken in the MLS Supplemental Draft by the Crew back in January.
Urso began the 2012 season as a starter for the Crew, starting the team's first five matches of the season. More recently, Urso was injured and was not with Columbus for its loss to D.C. United on Saturday night.
Urso is the first active MLS player to die during a season, and his passing has sent shockwaves throughout the league. Not only impacting his current teammates, and his many college teammates currently playing in the pros, but also the countless players who he played against and earned the respect of for his determined style of play.
Our condolences go out to the Urso family, the Crew and all the players affected by his passing.
Cheers to Urso and all the Crew fans. I’ve spent time in C-Bus with those awesome fans and I know that those folks are pretty down today. Sad times.
RIP
Kirk was a class act. Tragic news, just way too young.
Shocking on so many levels that a 22 year old would suddenly pass away.
This is tragic, tragic news. Only 22 years old, so young. My deepest condolences to the Urso family, his friends, his fans, and to the Crew all of whom are in our thoughts and prayers in this most trying of moments. so sorry to hear this and that it happened.
RIP, Kirk. RIP.
RIP Captain Kirk. Hard to believe this is true. Condolences to the Urso family
Absolutely shocked.
The entire soccer community mourns his loss.
RIP
Wow really sad. RIP Kirk
No matter how good he was or wasn’t, it’s terribly saddening when someone young passes away. I hope his family stays strong.
So unforunate to hear about this young man’s passing. May God be with him and I I wish nothing but strengh to the MLS community, his family, and all the lives of people he came across in his short journey.
RIP Kirk Urso
How awful. Tragic news.
RIP and condolences to his family and the entire Crew community, on behalf of myself and all fans in Philly.
Maybe change the title of this story to “has passed away”. Seems a bit unprofessional to me. RIP Urso
Such a great kid. Why does something like this happen? I got to know Kirk while being an assistant with the u15 national team and just remember the great midfield of he, Danny Wenzel, Jared Jeffrey and David McVane. I feel so bad for his friends and family and wish I could do something to ease their pain. God bless you Kirk.
I agree the title should say passed away.. but it doesn’t really matter. The point is a young man has been taken away far too soon. RIP Kirk Urso
RIP Kirk prayers for the family
“Passed away” is a euphemism. “Had died” is perfectly acceptable and more straight forward.
What did he die of?
“Passed away” is not appropriate for a news article and would probably get you an F in journalism class.
Deaths like this seem to almost always happen because of heart complications that have gone undetected all of their lives.
That or drug overdose, are really the only two things that can happen so suddenly.
But I am no Doctor, just going off of probabilities…
Classy tribute by Seatttle…this should be the US’ flagship team.
Unprofessional? You know it’s what the New York Times often uses, right? Or just ‘is dead’
What, did you get that from CSI Miami?
Depends on perspective and religion actually.
Christians tend to use died. As in, Christ died and resurrected.
Jews tend to use passed away.
link to askmoses.com
That comment is just sad.