Tomorrow Night

ASHBURN, Va. -- Two days after Clinton Portis said he was "75 percent" recovered from a partially dislocated left shoulder and one day after Portis said he might not make it back for even the second game of the season, the Washington Redskins announced that their star running back would play in tomorrow night's season opener. Redskins coach Joe Gibbs said yesterday that he would use Portis, who last season set the franchise single-season rushing record with 1,516 yards, in a backup role against the Minnesota Vikings at FedEx Field.

Soul Patrol? No thank you. On TV The two-part finale of American Idol airs at 8 tonight and tomorrow night on Fox (Channel 45).

Baseball Pirates@Nationals Where -- RFK Stadium, Washington When -- Tonight and tomorrow night, 7:05; Sunday, 1:05 p.m. What now? -- Now that the Nationals have a boss other than Major League Baseball, the next step is to take ownership of some needed victories. Lowly Pittsburgh, which started 2-14 on the road, provides an opportunity for the team to climb back into the race in the National League East. Tomorrow is cap night for all fans 21 and over, and Sunday is Youth Baseball Day. Plenty of tickets for all three games are still available on the Nationals' Web site, and they start at just $7. Online -- nationals.

Riverboat rockers The lowdown -- With a new album, To the Confusion of Our Enemies, a standout performance at South by Southwest Festival and a feature in Rolling Stone, things are looking good for punk rockers Riverboat Gamblers. Their tour stops at the Ottobar tomorrow night. If you go -- The Ottobar is at 2549 N. Howard St. Doors open at 9 p.m.; show starts at 9:45 p.m. Tickets are $8 for the all-ages show. For tickets or information, visit theottobar.com. Phoenix in D.C. The lowdown -- Paris import Phoenix incorporates elements of the synth-obsessed '80s to produce its signature sound.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.-- --As professional boxing weigh-ins go, it was more a business meeting than a circus act -- which is to say the theatrics and absurdity were certainly present but hummed at a relatively low volume. Members of both fighters' camps shouted back and forth, volleying the term "champion" all over the ballroom. To be accurate, there is a heavyweight title at stake tomorrow night when James Toney challenges Hasim Rahman. But for Rahman, so much more is on the line. Toney, 37, is fighting for his future, a shot at a few more paydays before he hangs up his gloves.

It started with the commute - there were few cars to share the roads into Baltimore, even when the clock still pointed to rush hour. Then there were the parking lots - that coveted space much closer to the door was suddenly available. Once inside the office, many of the desks seemed empty, offices dark; voice mail picked up calls with cheery messages announcing to anyone who might be silly enough to phone that, sorry, I'm out until the new year. The calendar might say it's after Dec. 25, but to many - from schoolchildren to office workers to CEOs - the Christmas vacation has just begun.

Funny, but they don't look maniacal. That's what they are, though, and proud of it. After 20 years of marriage and more than two decades as artistic collaborators, cellist David Finckel and pianist Wu Han have become classical music's power couple. Besides their onstage life - they kick off the classical portion of the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center's fifth anniversary season tomorrow night - Finc- kel and Wu Han serve as artistic directors of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in New York and the much-admired Music@Menlo chamber music festival they founded in California's Silicon Valley.

The Ravens' Peter Boulware can't wait to put his hand down in the dirt, push off and go after the quarterback. He wants to hear the sound of pads crashing and feel the air leaving the body of a quarterback he just sacked. And if the home crowd goes wild tomorrow night at M&T Bank Stadium, Boulware will match its excitement and passion. It's been nearly 20 months since Boulware played in a game. He missed last season with knee and toe injuries. Tomorrow night, in the Ravens' final preseason game against the Washington Redskins, he might get 10 to 15 plays.