http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2007/05/making-me-look-bad/42608/ I don't see any excusing that. The line between a hard foul when the circumstances of the play warrants it and just assaulting someone out of frustration that your team's blown the game isn't all that fine.
This article available online at:
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2007/05/making-me-look-bad/42608/
