YPSILANTI – A financial backer of the Ypsilanti Junior Braves youth football program is threatening to pull his $10,000 sponsorship if the team does not change its nickname and team logo.
Richard Griffin, an Ann Arbor native and owner of Rickstar Financial, says he’s been in contact with the Braves President Jason Atkins about changing the team’s nickname and logo, which Griffin, who is a sponsor for the team and other youth programs in the area, believes demeans Native Americans.
“My deal with the Ypsilanti Braves is with the name,” Griffin said. “Personally, I feel it’s just as offensive as the Cleveland Indians and the Atlanta Braves and it’s time for them to change that name.