Could Lawrence Frank Already Be Fined?

So I was watching my favorite baseball team on Fox Sports Detroit when I hear a familiar voice. No, it wasn't the silky smooth Rod Allen or the underrated Mario Impemba. It was that of new Detroit Pistons coach Lawrence Frank.

Now, I am an outspoken critic of Frank's hiring, but that is well documented.

That's also besides the point.

Frank said all the right things this evening.

He wants to restore the good old days of defensive-minded basketball. He wants to get back to the lunch pail days of old. And he wants to get the fans excited again.

He was careful to praise the fans and the franchise.

Then, he made a mistake that should cost him a few bucks. He mentioned Ben Wallace by name.

Given that we are currently in the midst of a lockout, this is a big no-no.

Wallace is a member of his team, but the NBA is being careful not to depict anything about the players.

Frank knew this, yet during his interview he got caught up in praising the team that he is now coaching.

Can you really blame him? No, but that isn't the point either.

Rules are rules, even stupid ones.

So what type of fine is he looking at?

Well we know that commissioner David Stern is taking this very seriously. Earlier this offseason, he threatened the Portland Trail Blazers' new general manager with a $1 million fine for saying "yeah" when a reporter commented that it was too bad that there wouldn't be a summer league because of the lockout.

Given that this is a slightly larger offense, Frank could be made an example of.

Stay tuned!