Columbus Crew Midfielder, 22 dies.

Tragic. RIP.

http://www.freep.com/usatoday/article/56800564&usatref=sportsmod?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Sports|p

COLUMBUS, Ohio (USA TODAY) — Columbus Crew midfielder Kirk Urso died overnight, and no cause of death has been determined, a county coroner said.

Urso, 22, was pronounced dead at 1:50 a.m. at Grant Medical Center in Columbus, Franklin County Coroner Jan Gorniak said. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday.

Team spokesman Marco Rosa says details of Urso's death are still being determined.

The Crew issued the following statement Sunday morning: "While the circumstances of Urso's passing are still being determined, no further comments will be made at this time. The thoughts and prayers of the entire Columbus Crew and Hunt Sports Group are with the Urso family in this time of need."

MLS will hold a moment of silence for Urso at today's two league matches.

According to The Columbus Dispatch, police officers arrived at a Columbus address at 12:50 am Sunday morning. Urso was taken to Grant Hospital and pronounced dead at 1:51 am.

A scheduled Reserve League match between the Crew and D.C. United for Sunday morning was canceled.

Urso had been injured — he had a sports hernia-type surgery for adductor tendinitis June 18 — and Rosa says he was not with the team for its 1-0 loss Saturday to D.C. United in Washington. Urso, 5-11, 175, had been rehabilitating with specialists in Columbus.

In a team profile last month of Crew rookies, Urso said he was frustrated with injuries.

"To go from getting picked up late in the draft, to starting and contributing, and then to be out completely and hurt — it's really frustrating. Injuries are just a part of (soccer)," he said.

A native of Lombard, Ill., Urso had played on North Carolina's NCAA title-winning team last fall, as did Crew forward Ben Speas, and for the U.S. under-17 World Cup team in 2007.

With the NCAA title, Urso said it helped erase years of frustration for him and the other UNC seniors.

"My whole college career has been awesome, but there was something extra about this team," Urso said. "To cap it off with this is something I'm going to remember the rest of my life."

Urso was the 10th selection in January's MLS Supplemental Draft and started the first five matches this season with midfielder Danny O'Rourke injured.

According to Urso's Facebook page, he was a fan of the Chicago Bulls, Seinfeld and the video game FIFA.

Urso is survived by his parents, Michael and Sandra, and one brother.

Among those reacting on Twitter:

•Mia Hamm @MiaHamm: "All our thoughts and prayers are with Kirk Urso's family, friends, and teammates. Heels."

•Philadelphia Union midfielder Freddy Adu @FreddyAdu: "Just heard the news Columbus crew midfielder Kirk urso has passed away. Sad news RIP"

•Crew teammate Chris Biorchall @chrisbirchall7: "Feeling numb by the passing away of a great team mate Kirk Urso last night. 22 and such a great guy, always smiling every single day!!"

•Crew teammate Eric Gehrig @eGehrig16: "Locker neighbor and my chi-town brotha, RIP Kirk Urso. You were a great kid with a bright future. Hard to understand. Love ya man. #crew96"

•Former North Carolina basketball star Kendall Marshall, first-round draft choice of the Phoenix Suns, @KButter5: "Prayers go out to Kirk Urso's family. UNC is here for you. RIP"

 

Bloody hell, this is tragic, feel for his friends and family too young to die. RIP.

 

tragic that like, did he play against our lot last year?

 

Always sad to hear of a youngster dying. Must be devasting for his family and friends.

 

As tragic, as it was it makes you see how lucky Fabrice Muamba is that he didn't end up this way.

 

Yes indeed, it looked almost certain that he was a goner.

 

I remember being in the kitchen and my dad coming in through and saying the game had been abandoned because a player was dead, was in total shock and was wondering who had died. Thankfully he didn't though.

 

Yet he decided to thank god and not the people who spent thousands of hours perfecting their medical skills to be able to achieve such a miraculous feat, our the centuries of progressive research to come up with some of the marvels of modern medical science

 

He's entitled to thank whoever or whatever he feels saved him.

 

He was classed as dead for over an hour before being resuscitated. Just goes to show what perseverance can do. A very lucky guy.

 

Which should really be the people that actually saved him

 

Such a shame. I find it strange that in this modern era where sportsmen are looked after like gods with tests for everything, diet etc that so many are collapsing and even dying so young. Strange that in the days when footballers ate what they wanted, smoked and drank you didn't hear of the number of on pitch incidents or sudden deaths.

 

Tragic news about that young kid, it's always shocking when it happens to a professional athlete as we're inclined to believe their bodies are in perfect working order, another timely reminder that we can't take anything for granted.

Pampa - any proof he didn't thank medical staff as well as god? Didn't think so.

 

Tragic for his family and friends.
I can remember seeing photos of Muramba with some of the medical team who saved his life,I'm sure the lad would have thanked them.

 

For all we know it could well have been God that actually saved him.

 

Id be more inclined to thank the defibrillator et al.

Terry it's not up to me to prove a negative, if you can show me him thanking the medics before god I will retract my criticism

 

Why do you need proof of anything? That's why it is called faith. He may or may not have thanked the medical staff first, but it doesn't really matter. I'm sure that his faith led him to believe that God worked through the medical staff to save him. Millions share the same beliefs that God is behind all miracles.

 

Pampa - what's your username all about? Considering the level of ridicule you direct at faith it seems odd.

Muamba could have thanked Timmy Mallet first if he wanted, because it's his right to.

 

Muamba told The Sun: “It was pure chance that Dr Deaner was in the crowd that day. I owe him everything. He is the reason I have been able to hold my baby son again and continue my life".

In his exclusive interview with the Sun newspaper, he claimed god helped him out after his prayers but evidently, the credit goes to Dr Deaner.

You can go ahead and retract now Pampa.

 

your a chore of a man, the username has nothing to do with any thoughts on religion and all to do with a GC thread whereby we were to click on the random article button on wiki and whatever came up first was to be your new username, which is why we had people with username like Tailhook Scandal going about.

He only said that after criticism of his initial it was god comments.