If they aren't taking away spots from others, then its irrelevant can brings sponsors and attention. The Masters in golf used to give a lifetime exemption for their winners for that tournament.

What qualifies you as a legend according to BASS or what is 1 time exemptions?

Every year, B.A.S.S. decides how many exemptions there will be and who gets them. Last year it was 2, Fritts and Elias.

This year it's 3, Fritts, Clunn, and Elias.

To further clarify as to what qualifies as a legend, according to the below article, it's past Classic and AOY winners.

https://www.bassmaster.com/news/elite-series-field-set-2018

This. It's why it's fine. If the spots were normally for "win and in" points based anglers, I'd take exception to it. But it isn't. It's just to keep things interesting.

Aren't these guys still paying their entry fees. If so all they are taking up is another spot at the boat ramp.

I guess it depends on the attitude of B.A.S.S when they're setting the field as to whether or not they're taking up any spots. If the attitude is, "We're gonna have 110 anglers. How many will be Legends?" Then yeah, they're taking up spots. But if the attitude is, "We want 107 qualified spots" then they could add 100 Legends and wouldn't be taking any away.

Who wants to walk up to Rick Clunn and say, excuse me Rick, you're too old and not good enough to fish in the Elite's anymore so go find another tournament. Not me buddy. I'm not a big fan of the person but I'm a super fan of his accomplishments. Call him old and washed up if you want, but don't call him a quitter or a loser. He may not win another Classic but in my book he is still a winner, a HOF'er and a Legend.

I wish they would have started it a few years earlier. Maybe then Zell Rowland would still be fishing the elites. A man that had fished over three hundred BASS tournaments threw to the curb., For us ole folks Zell and poppers are synonymous .

They earned it, leave them alone. Bass fishing shouldn�t just be a young mans sport. We all get old. 2016 wasn�t long ago. Some young guys have been in for longer than 4 and haven�t won.

Kinda like nascar

^^^^^
My thought are these comments right here are spot on but I think texasbassdude meant add 3 legends, it's just like Classic entries now.
They had a certain # of qualifying events for years and was the only way in besides being the previous year Classic champ, somewhere around 45. Then they went to those qualifying thru those events and added the top federation angler and now collegiate anglers and a few extra exemptions to put the # around 50 now.
Some will say they don't belong in the Classic either because they don't compete against the same caliber competion weekly.
Brian Kerchal disproved that thought years ago, and I think the Lee bros. and others are showing they belong!
If yutes that are inexperienced to the big time can pull out wins, then olds that are still physically able and are experienced can do it too!

So many people seem to be hung up on the "old" part. Based on what I see age has nothing to do with qualifying for one of the Legend spots. Unless I am reading it wrong you just have to have a Classic win or AOY win.

You don't have to be "old" to be a legend. Im pretty sure KVD is a legend and I don't consider him old. Sure he has been around a while but I doubt many would consider him old and I am sure he qualifies for a Legend spot based on what I read.

I don't care if you are 15, 50, or 100 years old. If you are good enough to compete in the Elites then you should have no problem earning your spot there like the rest of the field. Just because you won a classic back in the 1970's or what ever doesn't make you good enough to do it now.

I love the true legends of this sport and respect the heck out of what they have accomplished and done for this sport, but you are either at the top of your game or you aint. Watering down the Elite field with people who didn't qualify the usual way don't look good to me.

I would rather they do away with the Legends spots. It makes the field less competitive. That's shown by the AOY rankings of the Legends that have take that exemption. Plus it's controlled by BASS. Larry Nixon should be in a legend spot. They already have a time weighted system That allows averaging of AOY finishes while dropping your worst year for the available spots above 70. For the new guys it's a one year exemption then top 70 or you are out. It will be interesting to see who is out this year.

I would rather they offered two year exemption for anyone in the Top 5 in FLW Tour AOY. That would make the field stronger. There are a number of FLW Tour pros such as Andy Morgan, Bryan Thrift, Mark Rose...that would be serious threats to win on the Elites.

In BASS you could select your top 30 and pick a pretty good percentage of the top ten over the course of a year. Having a stronger field would make that much more difficult.

It's good that in the last few years then started using the system to eliminate some in the Elites.

Maybe they can make a "Legends Division" and fish like Tues and Wed before the Elites fish.

It's all tied together and they get to compete for some cheddar...

Andy Morgan and others can qualify just like everyone else. Because these spots are created they are not taking someone's spot. That being said I would personally rather see a Senior Tour, so you can see some of the older guys. Does a guy like Fritts still go out for the Elites if there is a Senior event? Probably not. That being said when you have strings and strings of missed cuts, it is disappointing. But I could make the argument that maybe the Elites should be cut to say 50 or 60 Anglers. If it is really Elite, why do you need so many? Same thing with the Classic, while I understand the business plan to give the every day guy a chance at the Classic, are you really fielding the best 50 in the World for your World Champion? No you are not.

I'm sure BASS has thought this thing out, the last thing they need is a bunch of P-off fans and sponsors. Sooner or later, probably sooner, it will probably come down to stats. That's just the way sports works. Sad day though when men like Clunn and all his accomplishments get bumped.