Today’s sports calendar

Writers toast the athletes

What do Wilbert Montgomery, Pete Rose, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Don Paige have in common?

They will all be honored tonight at the 76th annual Philadelphia Sports Writers Association Awards Dinner.

The affair, the oldest of its kind in the United States, begins at 6:30 at the Cherry Hill Hyatt House. The Eagles' Montgomery, who will fly in directly from the Pro Bowl in Hawaii, will be honored as 1979's outstanding pro athlete. Paige, the Villanova middle-distance runner, will receive the outstanding amateur athlete award.

Others to be honored include the Phillies' Rose (athlete of the decade), the Steelers (team of the year) and many other local and national sports figures. As always,the climax of the evening will be the announcement of the winner of this year's most courageous athlete award.