Story byChristian D'Andrea, For The WinMon, February 16, 2026 at 2:16 AM UTC·1 min readFew people in this world understood the quirks and contradictions of Philadelphia sports fandom -- and Philly in general -- quite like Dan McQuade. He was such an expert even an institution as venerated as The Simpsons took notice. McQuade was a key figure in the lifespans of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Deadspin and the media company borne from its herb-addled ashes, Defector. The writer who once broke down the full path of Rocky's run through the streets of Philadelphia -- and inspired an ultramarathon in the process -- was a notable figure across sports media, bringing insight and humor across a distinguished journalism career. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementTragically, that career was cut short in January.