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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

Defector

Drew McQuade

A collage of some of Dan's bootleg T-shirts

Stories

What I Found Sorting Through 1,200 T-Shirts My Son Left Behind

Dan McQuade and Hip-Hop the 76ers rabbit mascot.

Announcements

A Message From Dan McQuade’s Mom

David Roth

Phillie Phanatic, mascot of the Philadelphia Phillies, pumps up the crowd with some of his signature goofy antics during a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, August 9-11, 1982, at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania back in 1982. The turf looks crazy. His weird tongue is sticking out.

Podcasts

The Last Mayor Of Philadelphia

Defector Staff

What We Loved About Dan McQuade

<p>Hamilton Nolan is a journalist based in New York City. Subscribe to his work at <a href="https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1687350200913000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0naFbUVOe-5ZgtPDtIM3gz">HamiltonNolan.com</a>.</p>


Hamilton Nolan

Boxing

Look On The Bright Side

Ray Ratto

Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts after the game against the Sacramento Kings at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 29, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Kings 113-111.

Sixers Enact Intentional, Then Unintentional Tribute To The Late Great Dan McQuade

Tom Ley

Dan McQuade sits in a blue chair, which is big and fake leather-ish, and has big arms on it. He has his head resting on his left arm, which is on the left arm of the chair. He has long light brown hair, a beard cropped to his face, and I dunno I'd say he's pretty handsome, but I am biased as I am the subject of the photo. Dan is wearing a red shirt with a grey and white tabby cat's face on it, with a rose under (and patially covering) the cat. Under that it says DEFECTOR with the 4 degrees slant logo. He has on blue shorts or pants (they're shorts, I know they're shorts), they're not jeans but they're not sweats, like a sort of inbetween situation. There's a hospital admit bracelet on his left arm. His right arm is on the other arm of the couch.

Dan McQuade, 1983–2026


<p>Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.</p>


Dan McQuade

A brown leather couch covered, almost completely on the seats and up the seatbacks, with Greg Briley Topps baseball cards

Life's Rich Pageant

Here’s How A Man Accidentally Bought 10,400 Greg Briley Rookie Cards

A long white mall hallway with empty storefronts and a sign for an AMC movie theater in the distance

Capital

A Mall I Loved Is Going Pitch Black

A bunch of baseball cards behind. In front are two cards. One has this tip: "Never put poison in your mouth. And if you see someone put poison in their mouth, you should get help right away." The other says: "Drug dealers are always trying to tempt ballplayers. They like to hang around celebrities and try to get us to join them at parties. We learn to just say no. We tell them to get lost or we'll call police. Call it what you want, pot, grass, crack, speed, angel dust, or coke — it's dangerous stuff that can hurt you and even kill. If you're approached, just say no and then call your local police or tell your parents."

“Don’t Put Poison In Your Mouth,” And Other Great Tips From ’80s And ’90s Trading Cards

Photo of a white marble room with three archways in the middle. In the middle archway is a giant gold pipe organ, with two more archways on the other side of the room. A huge crowd fills the bottom of the photo, listening to the organ.

Dadfector

One Last Trip To Philadelphia’s Department Store Of Dreams

The Tale Of The Early-Round KO Of Muhammad Ali’s Champburger

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 08: Xavier Legette #17 of the Carolina Panthers drops a pass while being guarded by C.J. Gardner-Johnson #8 of the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth quarter of a game at Lincoln Financial Field on December 08, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Gambling

Sports Gambling Thrives On Clicks, Not Community

Dan and Dave split image on Wildwood boardwalk. In middle are two shirts: Trump as 50 Cent: Many men wish death upon me A shirt that says My favorite people call me pop-pop

Dan And Dave Hit The Wildwood Boardwalk: A 2024 T-Shirt Report

Moby performs on stage at a concert in 2002. He is in front of a mic in a black t-shirt with a weird eyeball design on it. He's sort of pushing forward with his torso as his arms go backward.

Music

A Notorious Pitchfork Reviewer Was My Biggest Musical Influence

A screengrab from Fox News in which Jesse Watters looks kind of impatient while talking about a Deadspin story about a child who wore a Native American headdress to a Chiefs game. The chyron reads "Male Karen Smears Young Fan As Racist."

This Is So Stupid

Why Is Your Most Conservative Family Member Screaming About A Small Boy In A Headdress?

A photo collage of Princess Diana wearing a Philadelphia Eagles jacket in 1991 while dropping her kids off from school

Arts And Culture

Princess Diana Bought That Eagles Jacket Herself

A drawn still from Diana's Piano. It looks hand drawn, maybe even even pencil marks. A red-headed girl with a white cat next to her plays a grand piano in a pink-ish void.

Animals

“Diana’s Piano” And All The Cats I’ve Loved And Lost

Tik Tok screenshots of "Livvy Rizzed Baby Gronk"

Livvy Rizzing Up Baby Gronk, Explained

A photo of a New Jersey rest stop. In the foreground is Ed Harris, the actor. He is in a suit. The quote below him is: "Acting is like scoring a touchdown."

The Garden State Parkway’s Jon Bon Jovi Rest Stop Is Playing Fast And Loose With Famous Quotes

Soccer: FIFA World Cup: Closeup portrait of SI Senior Writer Grant Wahl reading South Korean newspaper on street. Seoul, South Korea 6/20/2002