September 17: Emperor Norton, Tintin & Two NFL MVPs

September 17 is a day of self-appointed royalty, snowy comic-book adventures, and quarterbacks so good they make grown men cry into their nachos. Let's unwrap this beautifully chaotic calendar square.

The Man Who Simply Declared Himself Emperor

In 1859, a gloriously fed-up San Francisco resident named Joshua Norton, disgruntled with the legal and political structures of the United States, mailed letters to local newspapers proclaiming himself Emperor Norton. No election, no coup, no committee — just vibes and stationery. Honestly, in an era of endless paperwork, you have to admire a man who cut out the middleman and promoted himself straight to imperial majesty.

Ten years earlier, on the same date in 1849, Harriet Tubman escaped from slavery in Maryland and went on to orchestrate the rescues of others via the Underground Railroad — a true American hero whose courage still leaves everyone else's to-do list looking a little embarrassing.

A Snowy Comic and a Founding Movement

In 1958, Tintin in Tibet — the twentieth volume of Hergé's The Adventures of Tintin — began serialisation. The Belgian cartoonist regarded it as his personal favourite, which is a bold pick when your résumé includes a boy detective, a perpetually seasick captain, and a dog with better instincts than most people.

Meanwhile in 1980, Solidarity was founded in Poland as the first independent labor union in an Eastern Bloc country — a genuinely history-shaking moment that proved a group of determined people can change the world, ideally without declaring themselves emperors first.

Happy Birthday to the Football Gods

Now for the big leagues. September 17, 1995 gave us Patrick Mahomes, American football player, sidearm-throwing wizard and the man who made "no-look pass" a household phrase. The very same year delivered Michael Bunting, Canadian ice hockey player, in case you prefer your athletes on ice.

Two years later, in 1997, hockey doubled down with Auston Matthews, American ice hockey player and goal-scoring machine. And revving up the pit lane, 1996 brought Esteban Ocon, French Formula One racing driver, plus pop's own Slayyyter. That's a birthday group chat that could dominate a Sunday, win a Grand Prix, and drop a bop before dinner.

A Holiday Down Under

Finally, today is Australian Citizenship Day, a lovely celebration of belonging, community, and presumably very organized barbecues. Whether you're a brand-new citizen or just here for the vibes, raise a glass — Emperor Norton would insist, and who are we to argue with royalty?