Newz Forum: BASKETBALL: China says LeBron commercial insults national dignity

BEIJING -- China has banned a Nike television commercial showing NBA star LeBron James fighting a cartoon kung fu master, saying it insults national dignity.

The commercial, titled "Chamber of Fear," was broadcast on Chinese stations and the state television's national sports channel before being pulled last month.

The ad shows James in a video game-style setting defeating the kung fu master, two women in traditional Chinese attire and a pair of dragons, considered a sacred symbol in traditional Chinese culture.

The advertisement "violates regulations that mandate that all advertisements in China should uphold national dignity and interest and respect the motherland's culture," the State Administration for Radio, Film and Television said Monday on its website.

"It also goes against rules that require ads not to contain content that blasphemes national practices and cultures. ... The ad has received an indignant response from Chinese viewers."