If all it took to jinx a pitcher who was in the process of pitching a no-hitter was to mention the fact that he was pitching a no-hitter, couldn't a player on the opposing team jinx the pitcher by talking about the fact that he was pitching a no-hitter?
Blasphemer!
The thing is- yes, the opposing team can say it amongst themselves. But the announcers for the home team can’t say it. They are considered sort of part the team effort somehow and for them to say it falls under the jinx rule.
There is a sound psychological basis for the jinx rule by the way. It isn’t just superstition. If you want to be really good at something you will practice it until you do it unconsciously. This applies to being a musician (and if you can play guitar and sing at the same time you kind of know what I am talking about) or archery or basketball or whatever.
If you’re ‘in the groove’ you’re actually functioning unconsciously. Your performance will be much better than if your conscious mind is getting involved because your conscious mind works a lot slower and tends to only hamper things that should just be more like reflex.
If a pitcher is in a groove, the last thing you want is for him to start thinking about what he’s doing. He starts thinking about it and he screws it all up. He needs to just hang loose and stay in that groove. So, that’s why the other players won’t mention it to him. You mention it and he’ll start thinking about ‘I’m pitching a no-hitter. I need to start thinking about keeping my balls low (or whatever)’. It just screws him up. (you can refer to T Robbins wearing the garter belt in Bull Durham to get an idea of this phenom). Getting in the groove and going unconscious is an absolute fact though- not superstition.
For the fans and announcers not to mention it is a way for them to get into the moment with him and offer their support.
Nothing wrong with that.