The Bermuda Department of Tourism?s decision to sponsor the Miami Heat is set to pay-off in the play-offs as Shaq and his men go into action tonight in the best of seven series against the Dallas Mavericks.

Deputy Premier and Tourism Minister Dr. Ewart Brown, who actually turned down a sponsor?s trip to Dallas to watch the action, believes the advertising campaign has worked well and Bermuda could get a boost from the finals action.

?We got what we wanted from the campaign,? said Brown, who revealed the initiative was launched to promote the new Miami flight at ?pre-Shaq? prices.

?It was our biggest single investment because the demographics of the Heat market matched what we were looking for, although we did extensive radio and television campaigning.

?We were happy with the way the Miami flight is going and we are very exciting about our advertising in this scaled down second season of working with them.

?It has worked out very well with them getting so far and the fact that the Bermuda name will be on the electronic scoreboard even through the play-offs is fabulous for us.?

Brown, who has watched the Heat three of four times and met coaches and players ? although not Shaq ? is predicting a 4-2 Heat victory.

?I used to be a Lakers fan, but when Kobe Bryant and Shaq were split up, I sort of followed him to support Miami.?

The sports-mad tourism Minister also revealed that Heat coach Pat Riley is a regular Bermuda visitor, often sneaking up to the Island for rounds of golf.