Bill Conlin

Conlin was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and raised in Brooklyn, New York City. Conlin was a 1961 graduate of Temple University, Conlin died on January 9, 2014, in the Largo Medical Center in Largo, Florida. He had been admitted with multiple illnesses, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, and a colon infection. ==Sportswriting==

Conlin's sportswriting has been praised for its wit and intelligence. Fellow columnist Mitch Albom wrote, "For years, sitting next to him on The Sports Reporters all I got from Bill Conlin was the spit of his opinions in my ear. His writing is far less messy. It's also brash, charming, intelligent, historical, and at times almost elegant." However, Conlin drew criticism for failing to include pitcher Nolan Ryan on his Hall of Fame ballot. In November 2007, he caused controversy after quipping in an email that "the only positive thing I can think of about Hitler's time on earth: I'm sure he would have eliminated all bloggers." ==Allegations of child molestation==

On December 20, 2011, Conlin resigned from his sportswriting position just hours prior to the publication of allegations of child molestation from four people. One of Conlin's accusers was his niece, Kelley Blanchet, a prosecutor in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The claims of abuse were first reported to the police in 2009 when Blanchet said she became concerned for the safety of Conlin's other young relatives. Three more people later claimed they had been abused by Conlin. The Baseball Writers Association secretary/treasurer Jack O'Connell issued a "member in good standing" statement on December 20. It said in part, "The allegations have no bearing on [Conlin's] winning the 2011 J.G. Taylor Spink Award, which was in recognition of his notable career as a baseball writer". The day before the story broke, Deadspin editor A.J. Daulerio reported he had an email conversation with Conlin in which Conlin talked about suicide and criticized his accusers and Inquirer reporter Nancy Phillips. ==Bibliography==