Growing up in Philly, I've read his column many times over the years. I never liked him. (I never dreamed he was involved in anything like this however.) He was just plain vicious if he took a dislike to a player, manager, etc, - way beyond just criticism. I remember back in the early 70s when he ran a column with this big scoop announcing that the Phillies were about to hire Dave Bristol as their new manager. (I still remember Conlin's headline: "Phillies Will Be doing the Bristol Stomp.") A few days later, the Phils instead introduced Danny Ozark as the new manager, and Conlin looked like a fool. From that day on, he waged an all-out vendetta against Ozark.
Back to the subject at hand, if these charges are true, he should fry. As others on this thread have speculated, I wonder if there's any connection with the Penn State scandal?